Lilongwe International Airport

When hand baggage being checked be aware, that some might want to put a hand in your purse. Be loud in protesting because the officers around then will not let it happen.

A small international airport. Access by tarred road from central lilongwe 25km or 40 minutes. Good, secure cheap car parking. Check in area never more than 3 of the dozen or so desks manned. No obvious queing system. Resteraunt and bar upstairs are reasonable. Depature gate has worn chairs and bar is occasionally staffed, busses to the planes in urgent need of replacement. No more than 5 international flights a day from this ariport which seem to be handled to a reasonable standard. On arrival you are met by efficient customs staff. There is one very worn bagge belt but it is served by good manual baggage services from Plane to terminal. Bags frequently lost by airlines but excellent lost and found staff are based in the arrivals area. Lost bags arrive the following day in most cases. (About 30% of people arrive with lost bags on arrival at LLW - most on South African Airlines and Kenyan Airlines due to the 'JNB vanishing effect' and the short transfer time from European flights at NBO) Taxi operatives clog up the narrow arrivals area, cost is between $20 to $30 into town. No public transort whatsoever to or from this airport. Basically an airport in decay, however this is a very good airport for the region and works well most of the time.