NARU ZANZIBAR GUIDE
Last verified: September 2026
Planning a flight to Zanzibar is easier than many travellers expect.
Zanzibar has its own international airport and direct flights from cities across Africa, Europe and the Middle East, as well as easy one-stop connections through major hubs such as Dubai, Doha, Istanbul, Addis Ababa and Nairobi.
The part that can get confusing is that Zanzibar's flight network changes throughout the year. Some routes operate year-round, while others are seasonal or only fly a few times each week.
This guide covers direct flights to Zanzibar, the airlines serving the island, the best connecting airports if your city does not have a nonstop flight, and the routes we would consider when combining Zanzibar with a Tanzania safari.
Quick answer: Zanzibar's main airport is Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (ZNZ). Published schedules for 2026/27 include nonstop connections from more than 30 airports across Tanzania, Africa, Europe, the Middle East and China.
Always check the airline's schedule for your exact travel dates before booking, especially for seasonal routes.
Which Airport Do You Fly Into for Zanzibar?
For most Zanzibar holidays, the airport you want is:
Abeid Amani Karume International Airport — ZNZ
It is Zanzibar's main international airport and is located on Unguja, the main island most travellers mean when they say Zanzibar.
The airport is around five kilometres south of Zanzibar City.
If you are staying in Stone Town, Nungwi, Kendwa, Matemwe, Pwani Mchangani, Kiwengwa, Pongwe, Paje or Jambiani, ZNZ is normally still the airport you should fly into.
You do not need to choose a different airport based on which beach area you are staying in.
Are There Direct Flights to Zanzibar?
Yes.
Zanzibar has a much larger international flight network than many travellers realise.
As of September 2026, published schedules include nonstop connections from around 32 airports, although not every route operates daily or throughout the entire year.
Travellers often search for "direct flights to Zanzibar", so we use that wording throughout this guide.
Technically, a flight that travels from your departure airport to Zanzibar without stopping is a nonstop flight.
Always look at the full itinerary before booking. A flight may sometimes be marketed as direct while still including an intermediate stop.
Direct Flights to Zanzibar: Route Overview
The following cities have current, seasonal or upcoming published nonstop services to Zanzibar.
| Region | City | Airport | Main Airline(s) | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tanzania | Dar es Salaam | DAR | Air Tanzania, Precision Air, Coastal Aviation, Auric Air and others | Year-round |
| Tanzania | Arusha | ARK | Air Tanzania, Precision Air, Coastal Aviation, Auric Air and others | Year-round |
| Tanzania | Kilimanjaro | JRO | Air Tanzania, Precision Air and others | Year-round |
| Tanzania | Pemba Island | PMA | Air Tanzania, Auric Air, Coastal Aviation | Year-round |
| Tanzania | Tanga | TGT | Auric Air, Coastal Aviation | Year-round |
| Kenya | Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta | NBO | Kenya Airways, Air Tanzania, Precision Air and others | Year-round |
| Kenya | Nairobi Wilson | WIL | Safarilink, FlexFlight | Direct |
| Kenya | Mombasa | MBA | Safarilink and other services | Direct |
| Ethiopia | Addis Ababa | ADD | Ethiopian Airlines | Direct |
| Rwanda | Kigali | KGL | RwandAir | Direct |
| South Africa | Johannesburg | JNB | Airlink, FlySafair, Air Tanzania | Direct |
| South Africa | Cape Town | CPT | Airlink | From October 2026 |
| Uganda | Entebbe | EBB | Uganda Airlines, Air Tanzania | From November 2026 |
| Egypt | Cairo | CAI | EgyptAir | Direct |
| Egypt | Hurghada | HRG | Air Cairo | Seasonal |
| UAE | Dubai | DXB | flydubai, Air Tanzania | Direct |
| UAE | Abu Dhabi | AUH | Etihad Airways | Direct |
| Qatar | Doha | DOH | Qatar Airways | Seasonal |
| Oman | Muscat | MCT | Oman Air, Air Tanzania | Direct |
| Turkey | Istanbul | IST | Turkish Airlines | Direct |
| Israel | Tel Aviv | TLV | Israir | Published direct service |
| France | Paris Charles de Gaulle | CDG | Air France | Direct |
| Germany | Frankfurt | FRA | Condor, Discover Airlines | Direct / seasonal |
| Netherlands | Amsterdam | AMS | KLM, TUI fly | Seasonal |
| Switzerland | Zurich | ZRH | Edelweiss | Direct |
| Italy | Milan Malpensa | MXP | Neos | Direct |
| Italy | Rome Fiumicino | FCO | Neos | Direct |
| Italy | Bari | BRI | Neos | Direct |
| Italy | Catania | CTA | Neos | Direct |
| Italy | Verona | VRN | Neos | Seasonal |
| Russia | Moscow Vnukovo | VKO | Air Tanzania | Direct |
| China | Guangzhou | CAN | Air Tanzania | Seasonal |
Naru note: This is a route guide, not a daily timetable. Some flights operate every day, while others may operate only once or twice per week or during certain months of the year.
Direct Flights From Europe to Zanzibar
There are direct and seasonal flights to Zanzibar from several European cities.
Current published routes include:
Paris
Frankfurt
Amsterdam
Zürich
Milan
Rome
Bari
Catania
Verona
Moscow
Italy currently has one of the widest European nonstop networks into Zanzibar, with several routes operated by Neos.
Paris has direct Air France service.
Frankfurt has direct and seasonal options with Condor and Discover Airlines.
Amsterdam has seasonal service with KLM and TUI fly.
Zürich is served by Edelweiss.
The important thing to remember is that European Zanzibar routes are often seasonal.
A nonstop flight available during one part of the year may not operate during another.
Search your exact dates before building the rest of your trip around a particular flight.
Can You Fly Direct From London to Zanzibar?
As of September 2026, there is no current nonstop London–Zanzibar flight.
Most UK travellers currently reach Zanzibar with one connection through a hub such as:
Dubai
Doha
Istanbul
Addis Ababa
Abu Dhabi
Nairobi
However, the UK–Zanzibar market is changing.
British Airways has announced Zanzibar service from London Gatwick from summer 2027.
Travellers should check the complete itinerary carefully, as the outbound service may include a stop in mainland Tanzania depending on the schedule.
TUI has separately announced nonstop London Gatwick–Zanzibar flights from 3 November 2027, with the winter service planned twice weekly.
For travellers visiting before these new services begin, we would compare the complete one-stop journey rather than choosing based on price alone.
A slightly cheaper flight can quickly become poor value if it adds six or seven hours to your journey.
What About Madrid to Zanzibar?
Madrid is a good example of why Zanzibar flight information needs regular updating.
World2Fly operated seasonal Madrid–Zanzibar flights during summer 2026.
That seasonal programme ended in September 2026.
So Madrid should not currently be treated as a permanent year-round direct Zanzibar route.
If you are travelling from Spain, check whether a new seasonal programme has been announced for your dates or compare one-stop options.
Direct Flights From the UAE and Middle East to Zanzibar
The Middle East is one of the easiest regions from which to reach Zanzibar.
Dubai to Zanzibar
Yes, there are direct flights from Dubai International Airport (DXB) to Zanzibar (ZNZ).
Current published airlines include flydubai and Air Tanzania.
The nonstop journey is approximately 5 hours 40 minutes.
This makes Zanzibar particularly convenient from the UAE, especially for shorter trips where protecting travel time matters.
If you are travelling from the UAE, continue with our dedicated Dubai to Zanzibar Guide, where we cover flight planning, how many days to spend in Zanzibar and where to stay.
Abu Dhabi to Zanzibar
Etihad Airways operates direct service between Abu Dhabi (AUH) and Zanzibar (ZNZ).
That gives UAE travellers two major direct gateways into Zanzibar.
When comparing Dubai and Abu Dhabi, look at more than the fare.
Consider departure time, arrival time in Zanzibar, airport location and how much usable holiday time each flight gives you.
Doha to Zanzibar
Qatar Airways operates seasonal direct flights between Doha (DOH) and Zanzibar (ZNZ).
Doha is also one of the most useful connecting hubs for travellers coming from Europe, North America, Asia and Australia.
Because the direct Zanzibar sector is seasonal, always check the full itinerary for your travel dates.
Istanbul to Zanzibar
Turkish Airlines operates direct service between Istanbul (IST) and Zanzibar (ZNZ).
Istanbul is an especially useful connection point for travellers from Europe and North America because of Turkish Airlines' large international network.
Muscat to Zanzibar
Muscat also has published direct service to Zanzibar with Oman Air and Air Tanzania.
For travellers starting elsewhere in the Gulf, it can be worth comparing Muscat with Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha.
Direct Flights From Africa to Zanzibar
Zanzibar is extremely well connected within East Africa.
Direct regional routes include:
Dar es Salaam
Arusha
Kilimanjaro
Nairobi
Mombasa
Addis Ababa
Kigali
Johannesburg
with additional published services including Cape Town and Entebbe.
These routes are especially useful when Zanzibar is the final part of a longer Africa itinerary.
Nairobi to Zanzibar
Zanzibar has direct connections with both:
Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta International Airport — NBO
and
Nairobi Wilson Airport — WIL
Nairobi is particularly useful if you are combining Kenya and Zanzibar.
It can also work as a regional connection point before continuing to the island.
Addis Ababa to Zanzibar
Ethiopian Airlines operates direct service between Addis Ababa (ADD) and Zanzibar (ZNZ).
Addis Ababa is one of Africa's most important airline hubs and can create convenient connections from destinations across Africa, Europe and North America.
Johannesburg to Zanzibar
Johannesburg has direct Zanzibar service.
Published airlines include Airlink, FlySafair and Air Tanzania depending on the date and schedule.
For travellers from South Africa, check the nonstop options before automatically building a journey through Nairobi or Addis Ababa.
Cape Town to Zanzibar
Direct Airlink service between Cape Town and Zanzibar is scheduled to begin in October 2026.
Because this is a newer route, check the operating days for your exact travel dates.
Are There Direct Flights From the USA to Zanzibar?
No.
There are currently no nonstop flights between the United States and Zanzibar.
Travellers from the US normally connect through an international hub.
Depending on your departure city, useful options may include:
Doha
Istanbul
Addis Ababa
Dubai
and other major international gateways.
If you are travelling from New York, Washington, Chicago, Atlanta, Los Angeles or another US city, compare the entire journey rather than looking only at price.
For a long-haul Zanzibar flight, we look at:
Total travel time
Number of connections
Layover length
Arrival time in Zanzibar
Baggage allowance
Whether all flights are on one ticket
A cheaper itinerary is not always a better itinerary.
Are There Direct Flights From Canada to Zanzibar?
No.
There are currently no nonstop flights between Canada and Zanzibar.
Travellers from Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver and other Canadian cities normally connect through a major international hub before continuing to ZNZ.
Where possible, we would usually prefer one efficient connection over an itinerary involving several long layovers.
Are There Direct Flights From India to Zanzibar?
There is currently no scheduled nonstop India–Zanzibar route in the published ZNZ network.
Travellers from India can connect through major Gulf or African hubs.
Depending on your departure city and travel dates, Dubai, Doha and Addis Ababa can be useful options to compare.
Are There Direct Flights From Australia to Zanzibar?
No.
There are currently no nonstop flights between Australia and Zanzibar.
Australian travellers normally connect through a major international hub.
Dubai and Doha can be particularly useful because both have extensive networks connecting Australia with East Africa.
Are There Direct Flights From China to Zanzibar?
Published schedules include seasonal Air Tanzania service between Guangzhou (CAN) and Zanzibar (ZNZ).
Travellers from most other Asian cities will normally need to connect before reaching Zanzibar.
Flying to Zanzibar After a Tanzania Safari
Zanzibar is very easy to combine with a Tanzania safari.
If your safari finishes in northern Tanzania, you do not necessarily need to travel back to Dar es Salaam first.
Zanzibar has direct domestic connections from:
Arusha — ARK
Kilimanjaro — JRO
This can create a very natural itinerary:
Safari first → Zanzibar second.
After several days of game drives and early mornings, finishing beside the Indian Ocean is one of the most popular ways to structure a Tanzania trip.
The best flight depends on where your safari actually ends.
That is why we recommend planning the safari, Zanzibar accommodation and flights together rather than treating them as three separate bookings.
Should You Fly to Zanzibar or Dar es Salaam?
If Zanzibar is your main destination, we would usually choose Zanzibar Airport (ZNZ) when the fare and schedule make sense.
Flying into Dar es Salaam (DAR) first adds another stage to the journey.
From Dar es Salaam you still need to reach Zanzibar by domestic flight or ferry.
Dar es Salaam can still make sense when:
Mainland Tanzania is already part of your trip
Your safari or business travel naturally passes through Dar es Salaam
The international airfare is significantly better
The flight schedule is substantially more convenient
Our rule is simple:
Do not choose Dar es Salaam just because it looks close to Zanzibar on the map.
Compare the complete journey from your home airport to your Zanzibar hotel.
Best Airports for Connecting to Zanzibar
If your home city does not have a nonstop Zanzibar flight, these are some of the most useful hubs to compare.
Dubai
A major global hub with direct onward flights to Zanzibar.
Particularly useful for travellers from the UAE, Asia and destinations served through Dubai.
Doha
A strong international connection point for Europe, North America, Asia and Australia, with seasonal direct service to Zanzibar.
Istanbul
A useful option for many European and North American travellers, with direct Turkish Airlines service to Zanzibar.
Addis Ababa
One of Africa's largest airline hubs, with direct Ethiopian Airlines service to Zanzibar.
Nairobi
Excellent for travellers combining Kenya and Zanzibar and useful for regional connections.
Dar es Salaam
A short domestic flight from Zanzibar and particularly useful when mainland Tanzania is already part of your journey.
There is no single best connecting airport for Zanzibar.
The best connection is the one that gives you the cleanest complete journey.
Direct Flight or One Stop: Which Would Naru Choose?
We would not automatically pay any price for a nonstop flight.
But we also would not lose half a holiday day to save a small amount of money.
The shorter your Zanzibar trip, the more important your flight schedule becomes.
For a four-night trip, protecting travel time matters considerably.
For a seven-night trip, you have more flexibility.
For a longer Tanzania itinerary that includes a safari, a connection may make perfect sense if it fits naturally into the route.
We look at usable holiday time, not just the cost of the ticket.
A five-night Zanzibar trip can feel like five proper days.
Or it can feel like three if the flights and transfers are badly planned.
When Should You Book Flights to Zanzibar?
There is no single perfect number of weeks or months in advance that guarantees the cheapest Zanzibar flight.
What matters more is your travel period, flexibility and route.
Flights and good hotels can become more limited around:
Christmas and New Year
School holidays
Popular safari periods
European summer holidays
Peak Zanzibar travel months
Seasonal direct routes may also operate only once or twice each week.
If a particular nonstop flight is important to your trip, do not assume another flight will simply appear later.
At the same time, do not book a poor itinerary just because someone claims there is one perfect time to buy a ticket.
Compare the real options available for your dates.
What to Check Before Booking a Flight to Zanzibar
Before paying for your flight, check the complete itinerary.
Make sure your arrival airport is ZNZ.
Confirm whether the flight is genuinely nonstop or includes another stop.
Check whether the route operates during your travel month.
Review baggage rules, particularly if you are combining an international flight with a smaller regional aircraft.
Check whether connecting flights are on the same ticket.
Look at the layover length.
And pay attention to your arrival time in Zanzibar.
Landing at the airport is not the end of the journey.
You still need to clear immigration, collect your luggage and travel to your hotel.
How Far Is Zanzibar Airport From the Main Beach Areas?
Zanzibar Airport is close to Zanzibar City and Stone Town.
The main beach areas are farther away.
Your airport transfer will therefore depend significantly on where you stay.
A traveller staying in Stone Town has a very different arrival day from somebody travelling to Nungwi, Matemwe, Pwani Mchangani, Kiwengwa, Paje or Jambiani.
Location also affects more than airport transfers.
It affects tides, swimming conditions, restaurants, nightlife and how much time you spend driving between activities.
Before booking accommodation, read our Where to Stay in Zanzibar Guide.
Frequently Asked Questions About Flights to Zanzibar
What is Zanzibar's airport code?
Zanzibar's main international airport code is ZNZ.
Its full name is Abeid Amani Karume International Airport.
What is the best airport to fly into for Zanzibar?
For almost all visitors staying on Zanzibar's main island, the airport to use is Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (ZNZ).
Can you fly directly to Zanzibar?
Yes.
Zanzibar has direct international flights from cities across Africa, Europe and the Middle East, with additional seasonal services.
How many airports have direct flights to Zanzibar?
As of September 2026, published schedules include approximately 32 airports with nonstop connections to Zanzibar.
The number operating during your specific travel month may be lower because some routes are seasonal.
Which European cities fly directly to Zanzibar?
Current or seasonal published routes include Paris, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Zürich, Milan, Rome, Bari, Catania, Verona and Moscow.
Is there a direct flight from London to Zanzibar?
There is no current nonstop London–Zanzibar service as of September 2026.
New UK–Zanzibar services are scheduled for 2027, including British Airways service and nonstop TUI flights from London Gatwick.
Is there a direct flight from Dubai to Zanzibar?
Yes.
Direct flights operate between Dubai International Airport and Zanzibar.
The journey is approximately 5 hours 40 minutes.
Is there a direct flight from Abu Dhabi to Zanzibar?
Yes.
Etihad Airways operates direct service between Abu Dhabi and Zanzibar.
Are there direct flights from the USA to Zanzibar?
No.
There are currently no nonstop flights between the United States and Zanzibar.
Travellers normally connect through an international hub.
Can you fly directly from Johannesburg to Zanzibar?
Yes.
Johannesburg has direct Zanzibar service on current published schedules.
Can you fly directly from Cape Town to Zanzibar?
Direct Airlink service is scheduled to begin in October 2026.
Check the operating days for your travel dates.
Can you fly to Zanzibar after a safari?
Yes.
Zanzibar has direct connections with Arusha and Kilimanjaro, making it easy to combine Zanzibar with Tanzania's northern safari circuit.
Is it better to fly to Zanzibar or Dar es Salaam?
If Zanzibar is your main destination, flying directly into ZNZ is normally simpler.
Dar es Salaam can make sense when mainland Tanzania is already part of your trip or when the overall airfare and schedule are substantially better.
Plan the Rest of Your Zanzibar Trip
Choosing the flight is only the first part of planning Zanzibar.
The next decisions can make an even bigger difference to your trip.
Which part of Zanzibar should you stay in?
How many nights do you need?
Which beaches suit the way you travel?
How will the tides affect your stay?
Should you combine Stone Town with the coast?
And which experiences are actually worth making time for?
If this is your first visit, continue with the Naru Zanzibar Travel Guide.
If you are travelling from the UAE, read our Dubai to Zanzibar Guide.
Before choosing accommodation, read our Where to Stay in Zanzibar Guide.
At Naru, we plan Zanzibar around the complete journey: the right flight, the right part of the island, the right experiences and enough time to actually enjoy it.
Flight route status: Last verified September 2026
Airline schedules, frequencies and seasonal routes can change. Naru regularly reviews published Zanzibar flight schedules and updates this guide when meaningful route changes are announced. Always confirm your exact travel dates and operating flight with the airline before purchasing your ticket.
