Arusha is served by two airports: Arusha Airport (ARK) for domestic and regional flights, and Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) located approximately 50km away. JRO is the primary international gateway for travelers arriving into the Northern Tanzanian safari circuit, serving both Arusha and Moshi, and is the main airport for visitors heading to Mount Kilimanjaro and the Serengeti.
Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) offers the most important connections into the region. Key international inbound routes include direct flights from Amsterdam (AMS), Istanbul (IST), Doha (DOH), and Addis Ababa (ADD). Regional destinations include arrivals from Nairobi (NBO), Zanzibar (ZNZ), Dar es Salaam (DAR), and Kigali (KGL) into JRO. Arusha Airport (ARK) primarily receives scheduled and charter flights from domestic parks like the Serengeti, as well as from Zanzibar and Nairobi.
JRO is served by a mix of international and African carriers flying into Arusha. Key airlines include KLM, Turkish Airlines, Qatar Airways, Ethiopian Airlines, and Precision Air arriving at JRO. Regional airlines like Air Tanzania, Coastal Aviation, and Auric Air operate domestic and regional routes into both JRO and ARK. There is limited low-cost carrier presence into the Arusha region.
To find affordable flights to the Arusha region, focus on booking arrivals into Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO). Book international flights into JRO several months in advance, especially for peak safari seasons (June-October, December-February). For regional travel from within East Africa to Arusha, compare fares on Ethiopian Airlines, Kenya Airways, and Precision Air flying into JRO. To reach Arusha from destinations beyond the direct network, connecting through hubs like Nairobi (NBO), Addis Ababa (ADD), or Doha (DOH) is standard before taking a final flight to JRO. For domestic safari arrivals into Arusha, book charter flights through your tour operator well in advance, as space on small planes into ARK is limited.