Flight disruptions at Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (MQP) due to ATNS delays! [update #2]

update (27 October 2025): Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (MQP) has announced that all flight operations at the airport are operating as per the usual schedule today.  

update (21 October 2025): Air Traffic and Navigation Services (ATNS) SOC Ltd has announced that Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (MQP) in Mbombela/Nelspruit may experience disruptions today due to adverse weather conditions, specifically reduced visibility caused by low cloud cover, combined with the absence of instrument flight procedures. 

Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (MQP), located about 27 kilometres northeast of Mbombela/Nelspruit in Mpumalanga, has announced severe disruptions to scheduled airline services. The airport serves as the primary air gateway to the world-famous Kruger National Park, making the current situation particularly significant for travellers heading to one of Africa’s top safari destinations.

According to airport management, the disruptions stem from the Air Traffic and Navigation Services (ATNS)’ failure to meet crucial deadlines required to maintain the validity of Instrument Flight Procedures (IFPs). As a result, the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) has suspended these procedures, impacting flight operations to and from the airport.

Despite the challenges, Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (MQP) has confirmed that all airside infrastructure, including lighting and Instrument Landing Systems (ILS), remain fully calibrated, serviceable, and compliant with regulatory standards. The airport emphasised that the suspension of IFPs is not due to any non-compliance on its part, reaffirming its commitment to maintaining infrastructure and safety at a consistently high level.

Airport management is working closely with airline partners and ATNS to minimise disruptions and restore normal flight operations as soon as possible. Travellers using Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (MQP) are advised to stay in touch with their airlines for the latest updates regarding flight schedules and operational changes.

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South Africa: Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (MQP) warns of possible flight disruptions due to weather!

Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (MQP), situated about 27 km northeast of Mbombela/Nelspruit in Mpumalanga and serving as the main gateway to the iconic Kruger National Park, has advised travellers that flight operations may be affected in the coming days due to adverse weather conditions.

According to the airport management, instrument flight procedures – overseen by Air Traffic and Navigation Services (ATNS) – are currently suspended, making all flights heavily dependent on favourable weather. These circumstances are beyond the airport’s control, and passengers are encouraged to remain patient during this period.

Travellers are advised to check the official Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (MQP) website and follow its social media channels for the latest operational updates. Passengers should also contact their airline directly for specific flight information and potential schedule changes.

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South Africa: Airlink to connect Kruger National Park with Victoria Falls!

South African regional carrier Airlink is set to launch a direct service between Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (MQP) in Mbombela (Nelspruit) and Victoria Falls International Airport (VFA) in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. Effective 28 November 2023, the airline will operate three weekly flights between the two destinations on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (MQP) is the major gateway for tourists travelling by air to South Africa's famous Kruger National Park.

• Mbombela 11:35 > 13:25 Victoria Falls
• Victoria Falls 14:00 > 15:40 Mbombela

To facilitate the new service, Airlink will adjust its alreday existing service between Mbombela (Nelspruit) and Harry Mwanga Nkumbula International Airport (LVI) in Livingstone to four weekly flights on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.

• Mbombela 11:35 > 13:30 Livingstone
• Livingstone 14:00 > 15:40 Mbombela

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Zimbabwe: Fastjet to launch flights between Victoria Falls <> Mbombela (Nelspruit)!

Low-cost carrier Fastjet (Zimbabwe) is planning to introduce a new service to South Africa. The airline will launch direct flights between Victoria Falls Airport (VFA) in Victoria Falls and Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (MQP), located located 27 km north east of Mbombela (Nelspruit) in Mpumalanga from 16 March 2022. Fastjet (Zimbabwe) will  initially operate three weekkly flights on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays on board an Embraer ERJ145 aircraft. From July 2022 the service will be increased to a daily flight linking the two popular tourist destinations.

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Fastjet (Zimbabwe) postpones flights between Victoria Falls and Kruger National Park!

Low-cost carrier Fastjet (Zimbabwe) has announced that it will postpone the launch scheduled operations between Victoria Falls International Airport (VFA) in Victoria Falls and Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (MQP) in Nelspruit, South Africa, until next year. The airline initially planed to commence flights to Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (MQP), which is located about 30km from Nelspruit and about 40hm from Kruger National Park's Numbi Gate, on 06 July 2020. Fastjet (Zimbawbe) also made public that it will postpone domestic flights between Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport (BUQ) in Bulawayo and Victoria Falls, also intitially planed to commence on 06 July 2020, until further notice. The airline names the decline in demand and the likelihood of the coronavirus pandemic resurging and persisting well into 2021 as the main reasons for the change of plans. Costumers who have already made valid bookings are advised to contact Fastjet (Zimbabwe) for further assistance.

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Fastjet (Zimbabwe) to connect Victoria Falls with Kruger National Park! [update]

update (23 April 2020): Fastjet (Zimbabwe) postpones flights between Victoria Falls <> Kruger Mpumalanga until 2021 and between Bulawayo <> Victoria Falls until further notice.

Low-cost carrier Fastjet (Zimbabwe) has announced the introduction of a new regional route and a new domestic route. Effective 06 July 2020, the airline will initially operate four weekly direct flights between Victoria Falls International Airport (VFA) in Victoria Falls and Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (MQP)* in Nelspruit, South Africa, as well as initially three weekly direct service between Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport (BUQ) in Bulawayo and Victoria Falls. This will increase Fastjet's (Zimbabwe) flight frequency to a total 138 flights per week. (via atcnews.org)

• Victoria Falls (VFA) 11:20 > 13:05 Nelspruit (MQP) on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays
• Nelspruit (MQP) 13:35 > 15:15 Victoria Falls (VFA) on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays 
• Tickets are available for sale from 29 January 2020.
  

• Bulawayo (BUQ) 11:05 > 12:05 Victoria Falls (VFA) on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays
• Victoria Falls (VFA) 15:50 > 16:50 Bulawayo (BUQ) on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays
• Tickets will be available for sale from 03 February 2020.

*Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (MQP) is located about 30km from Nelspruit and about 40hm from Kruger National Park's Numbi Gate.

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South Africa: Airlink has introduced enhancements to its service between Cape Town <> Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport!

South African regional carrier Airlink has introduced enhancements to its service between Cape Town International Airport (CPT) in Cape Town and Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (MQP), located about 60km north east of Nelspruit in Mpumalanga. Since 14 January 2019, the airline's early morning flights depart Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport at 07:00 and arrive at Cape Town International Airport at 0925. Late afternoon flights depart Cape Town at 16:30 and arrive at Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport at 18:45. These flights are operated from Mondays to Fridays. On Saturdays a new early morning departure leaves Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport at 07:40 and arrives in Cape Town at 10:05.

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Airlink increases capacity between Cape Town <> Nelspruit!

South African carrier Airlink will add a second flight between Cape Town International Airport (CPT) in Cape Town and Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (IATA: MQP; KMIA) from 02 July 2017, operating every day except Saturdays. Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport is located about 60 km northeast of Nelspruit; the airport mainly serves Kruger National Park. The flight will depart from Cape Town International Airport at 15h00 and arrive in Nelspruit KMIA at 17h15 and depart from Nelspruit KMIA at 17h35 and arrive at Cape Town International Airport at 20h00.
Airlink now operates up to 13 flights a day to this region, providing access from Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town with direct regional flights departing to Livingstone and Vilanculos.

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360° VR video of Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport!

Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (KMI), the Southern Gateway to South Africa's famous Kruger National Park, was recently the first airport in Africa to implement virtual reality (VR) technology. By using mobile devices with a VR headset such as Google Cardboard, Oculus Rift or Samsung VR Gear, users are now able to experience the airport and its surroundings in a 360° interactive format. The video below gives you an idea what to expect at Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (KMI).



Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (KMI) is located 23 km north east of Nelspruit and 14km from White River in Mpumalanga.

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Airlink to launch flights between Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport and Vilanculos

South African airline Airlink is set to launch scheduled flights between Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (IATA: MQP), located north east of Nelspruit, and Vilankulo Airport (IATA: VNX) in Vilanculos in Mozambique's Inhambane Province on 19 June 2014. The flights between the two destinations, which will be operated twice weekly (Thursday and Sunday) on one of Airlink's 12 Embraer ERJ135 regional jets, will depart Nelspruit at 11:35 and will arrive in Vilanculos at 12:50. The return flight will depart Vilanculos at 13:45 and arrive in Nelspruit at 15:30.

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Airlink to launch flights between Nelspruit <> Vilanculos

South African regional carrier, Airlink, announced that it will launch flights between Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (KMIA) in Nelspruit and Vilanculos Airport (VNX) in Vilanculos in Mozambique. From 19 June 2014 the airline will initially operate two flights per week, with departures on Thursdays and Sundays.

• Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (KMIA) 11:35 > 12:50 Vilanculos Airport (VNX)
• Vilanculos Airport (VNX) 13:45 > 15:30 Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (KMIA)

Airlink will also increase its current flights between Johannesburg and Vilanculos to a daily schedule in June 2014.

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Airlink enhances service between Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (South Africa) and Livingstone (Zambia)

South African airline Airlink will enhance its service between Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (KMIA) in Nelspruit and Harry Mwanga Nkumbula International Airport in Livingstone (Zambia) by using one of its 13 Embraer ERJ 135 jets from 22 March 2013. This will shorten the flying time between the two destinations.
Airlink will operate flights on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Flights will depart KMIA at 11h35 and arrive in Livingstone at 13h10. The return flights depart Livingstone at 13h45, arriving in KMIA at 15h25.
Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport is situated just 25km north-east from Nelspruit, 14km from the town of White River and approx. a 30min drive from Kruger National Park. Harry Mwanga Nkumbula International Airport is situated on the northern edge of Livingstone. It's the airport closest to the Victoria Falls.
Airlink's route network services 32 destinations of which 16 are over-border, operates up to 3,000 flights per month, carrying just over 1 million passengers per annum through its network. As a franchisee of South African Airways (SAA), Airlink is able to interface seamlessly with SAA and its global Star Alliance partners’ networks.

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South African Lowveld: R44m facelift for reserves

Some of the most popular reserves in the South African Lowveld's Panorama, namely the Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve, Manyeleti Reserve, Loskop Dam Nature Reserve and the Songimvelo Game Reserve, will soon get a R44m facelift.
Renovations at the Blyde River Canyon will start as soon as possible and will include Bourke's Luck Potholes, God's Window, "Drie/Three Rondawels" and Lowveld Views and River Falls.

Bourke's Luck Potholes:

• new entrance gate
• restaurant (50 seats)
• reconstruction of an eco-centre
• upgrade of ablution facilities, offices and guest houses
• new boreholes will be drilled for water supply

God's Window:

• new entrance gate
• new parking areas
• new walkways
• new site railings

"Drie/Three Rondawels" & Lowveld Views:

• potholes will be patched
• Walkways to view sites will be installed
• railings to view sites will be installed

River Falls:

• new curio stalls
• new ablution facilities

South Africa: New domestic airline "FlyGoAir" to launch service in November 2012

update (07 Feb 2013): FlyGoAir has not commenced operations so far, except for its inaugural flight in December 2012.

Little is known about FlyGoAir, a new South African carrier that will commence service in November 2012. It is known though, that the airline, which will have its main hub at Lanseria International Airport in Johannesburg, is planning to operate flights on routes that are currently not served by other domestic airlines in South Africa. FlyGoAir's first route will therefore be between Lanseria International Airport and Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (KMIA). The airline will start operating flights between the two destinations on 26 Nov 2012; one-way flights will be ZAR999pp, inclusive of all taxes. FlyGoAir will, according to news reports, also extend its network to Polokwane and Pietermaritzburg in January 2013. Later in 2013, the carrier is planning to operate flights from Lanseria International Airport to Bloemfontein and George as well as from Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (KMIA) to Cape Town.

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Airlink to increase flights between Kruger and Livingstone

South African airline Airlink will increase the number of flights from Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport to Livingstone in Zambia from 10 March 2012 (additional flight on Saturdays) and 07 August 2012 (additional flight on Tuesdays). The schedule will then operate Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. The flights depart Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport at 11h55 arriving Livingstone at 13h50 and departing Livingstone at 14h20 arriving Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport at 16h45.

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Comair increases Johannesburg < > Nelspruit frequency

Comair Limited,  operator of British Airways in South Africa and kulula.com, will now be offering business and leisure travellers two daily flights between OR Tambo International in Johannesburg and Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport in Nelspruit as part of its new schedule.
As of 01 July 2011, British Airways will introduce an increased schedule which will include an early morning and late afternoon departure from OR Tambo International to Nelspruit.
The new flights are available for sale since 15 June 2011.

Accommodation near Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport, Nelspruit (Mbombela)

Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (IATA: KMIA), located 25km north east of Nelspruit, is the gateway to the Kruger National Park, many other wildlife areas in Mpumalanga & Limpopo as well as to wildlife reserves in Zimbabwe and Mozambique.
The airport has recently undergone extensive upgrades and is offering the traveller banking facilities, ATMs, VIP lounges and car rental depots.


View Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport in a larger map

Accommodation near (max. 11km) Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport:

• Sheldon Guest Farm
  Self Catering in Nelspruit
  3.46km from Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport
• White House Lodge
  Guest House in White River
  7.66km from Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport
• Country Lane Lodge
  Bed and Breakfast in White River
  7.79km from Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport
• Seringa Lodge
  Guest House in White River
  8.65km from Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport
• Bali Biasa
  Guest House in White River
  9.32km from Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport
• The Gardens Self Catering Accommodation
  Self Catering in White River
  9.41km from Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport
• Victoria Farm Guest House
  Guest House in White River
  9.62km from Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport
• King's Paradise Accommodation
  Self Catering in Nelspruit
  9.85km from Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport
• Mallard Cottage
  Self Catering in White River
  10.35km from Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport
• Pine Lake Inn
  Hotel in White River
  10.76km from Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport
• Coo-coos Nest
  Private Home, Self Catering in White River
  10.85km from Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport
• Greenway Woods Resort Three Cities
  Lodge in White River
  10.98km from Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport

From May 2010: More flights from Johannesburg to Kruger National Park

From 04 May 2010 British Airways (via Southern African franchise partner Comair) will commence six flights per week on the OR Tambo International Airport (Johannesburg) - Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (Nelspruit) route.
The flight in a Boeing 737-300 will only take 40min and will depart Johannesburg at 10.40am. The return flight from Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport will depart at 12pm. British Airways and SA Airlink are the only carriers servicing the airport.

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