← Home / Airports / Zambia

Data source: OurAirports (2026-09-01 Snapshot) · Methodology & Verification →

Harry Mwanga Nkumbula International Airport

Livingstone, Southern Province (Zambia)

IATA: LVI ICAO: FLHN

Longest Active Runway

9,843 ft

3,000 meters

Field Elevation

3,302 ft

1,006 m MSL

Runway Inventory

2 active

Lighted / Paved

Coordinates & Class

-17.8215°, 25.8196°

LARGE AIRPORT

🏆

Multi-Universe Rankings & Statistical Standing

Ranking Universes Guide →

RunwayFacts Published Dataset

#609 of 650

In curated primary commercial index

Global Commercial Universe

#1096 of 7558

Top 15.9% percentile worldwide

National Standing (Zambia)

#3 in ZM

#3 of 12 in full national registry

vs Large Airport Median

-1.6%

Compared to 10,000 ft baseline

💡 Statistical Statement: Harry Mwanga Nkumbula International Airport's longest active runway measures 9,843 ft (3,000 m). Within RunwayFacts' published index of 650 aerodromes, it ranks #609. Across the broader global dataset of 7558 commercial facilities, it ranks #1096 worldwide (Top 15.9%) and #3 nationally in Zambia.

🔬 Operational & Aerodrome Engineering Comparative Analysis

Comparative aviation metrics evaluated against regional and global physical operational criteria.

ICAO Code 4D / 4E Heavy Intercontinental

⛰️

Elevation & Atmospheric Density

Mid-Altitude Plateau / Valley Facility

Operating at 3,302 ft (1,006 m MSL), true airspeed (TAS) on approach and takeoff roll is moderately higher than indicated airspeed (IAS). Engines experience slight thrust lapse under elevated summer temperatures, necessitating conservative density-altitude dispatch calculations for fully laden twin-engine commercial transports.

🧭

Regional Density & Alternates (100 NM)

1 Qualifying Aerodrome in Vicinity

Within its 100 NM cluster of 1 neighboring aerodromes, Harry Mwanga Nkumbula International Airport is supported by major regional alternatives. Notably, Victoria Falls International Airport (VFA) lies just 16.6 NM away with a 13,123 ft runway, offering reliable operational redundancy for commercial diversions and congested airspace rerouting.

✈️

Fleet Compatibility & Ground Roll

Primary Runway: 9,843 ft (3,000 m)

At 9,843 ft (3,000 m), the primary runway comfortably accommodates mid-to-large twin-aisle widebody transports (such as the Boeing 787-9 and Airbus A330-900) as well as maximum-range narrowbody transcontinental configurations (Airbus A321XLR and Boeing 737 MAX 9) under typical atmospheric conditions.

🛫 Physical Runway Inventory & Surface Engineering

Runway Designator	Length (ft / m)	Width (ft / m)	Surface Material	Lighting	Status
10/28	9,843 ft (3000m)	151 ft (46m)	`Asphalt (ASP)`	✅ Lighted	✅ Active
15/33	4,501 ft (1372m)	98 ft (30m)	`Dirt`	❌ Unlighted	✅ Active

🧭 Comparative Aerodromes (100 NM Radius, ≥5,000 ft Paved)

Great-circle Haversine spatial proximity matching for commercial facilities with paved runway capacity within 100 NM.

Aerodrome Name	IATA	Distance	Longest Runway	Lighting
Victoria Falls International Airport (Victoria Falls)	`VFA`	16.6 NM (30.7 km)	13,123 ft	✅ Lighted

🛡️ Data Provenance & Verification Metadata

Source Dataset: OurAirports Open Aviation Database

Snapshot Version: 2026-09-01

Dataset Integrity: Cryptographic SHA-256 Checksum Verified & Fail-Closed Schema Inspected

Source Verification: Source-reported registry data

Read Complete Methodology & Verification Protocol → GET /api/airport/lvi.json ↗