We used this airport to travel to…
We used this airport to travel to Zanzibar and, unfortunately, the experience was far from satisfactory. We hope this review may be helpful both to fellow travellers and, above all, to those responsible for managing the facility.
On the security front, we noticed several concerning issues: the scanners did not appear to be working properly, and we witnessed situations that would not be acceptable in an international airport setting — such as a passenger presenting a photo of their passport on a mobile phone rather than the original document. Air travel security is paramount, and we sincerely hope that stricter measures will be put in place as soon as possible.
At check-in, we were informed of an aircraft change — from SafariLink to FlightLink — with a departure delayed by approximately one hour, without any clear explanation or apology. We also noticed a noticeable disparity in the treatment of local passengers versus tourists, with baggage checks applied inconsistently.
Particularly frustrating was the handling of our carry-on bag, which was checked into the hold without any opportunity for discussion, leaving us concerned about having the essentials for our holiday. On several occasions, staff members did not demonstrate the courtesy and professionalism one would expect in a tourist-facing environment.
We understand the challenges involved in managing an airport serving such a popular tourist destination, and we acknowledge that this is currently the only practical connection to Zanzibar. For this very reason, we believe it deserves greater attention and investment — in terms of infrastructure, staff training, and safety standards — in order to meet the expectations of international travellers.
June 10, 2026
Unprompted review