Departure
92%
vs 95% ▼ 3
MY FS FLIGHTS
MY FS FLIGHTS
Walvis Bay International Airport (FYWB) serves the coastal town of Walvis Bay in Namibia's Erongo Region, sitting in the dunes of the Namib Desert some 15 km east of the harbour. Built on the site of the former South African Air Force station AFB Rooikop, it now offers a long, ILS-equipped runway that makes it a useful and technically interesting stop for pilots exploring Namibia's coastline.
Walvis Bay International Airport lies in the Namib Desert dunes east of the harbour town of Walvis Bay, on Namibia's Atlantic coast. It is operated by the Namibia Airports Company and, despite modest passenger numbers, is notable for its very long, well-equipped runway and its history as a military airfield. For a simulator pilot it offers a striking contrast of setting - a substantial paved runway surrounded by desert and coastal fog - along with straightforward instrument approach facilities.
The airport is situated in the Erongo Region of Namibia, about 15 km east of Walvis Bay town centre and roughly 30 km south of Swakopmund. It lies within Namibian airspace with its own approach and tower services rather than sharing controlled airspace with a larger hub, and the surrounding terrain is open desert and dune country typical of the Namib.
The airport has a single physical runway, 09/27, with a hard surface and lighting on both directions. Runway 27 is 11,258 feet long and equipped with an ILS, while the reciprocal runway 09 is 11,257 feet long. This is an exceptionally long runway for the region, reflecting past and potential use by large jet aircraft and military types.
Pilots should contact Approach and Tower on 122.5 MHz, the frequency used for both services at Walvis Bay. The field is equipped with an instrument landing system on runway 27, along with runway lighting, supporting operations in the coastal overcast conditions that frequently affect the area.
The airport sits amid the dunes of the Namib Desert, with the Atlantic coastline and the harbour town of Walvis Bay to the west providing a clear visual reference on approach from the sea. Swakopmund lies about 30 km to the north along the coast and can serve as a useful waypoint for pilots transiting the area.
The airfield began life as AFB Rooikop, a South African Air Force station and later a full air base, which was home to 16 Squadron SAAF in 1939-1940 and 27 Squadron SAAF during the 1940s before the base closed in 1994. From 2007 onward the airport underwent significant upgrades, including new air traffic control equipment, an instrument landing system, runway lighting, and extensions to the runway at both ends, transforming the former military strip into a modern civilian facility. A new terminal was inaugurated in July 2016 as part of efforts to establish Walvis Bay as Namibia's second international gateway.
Walvis Bay International Airport today handles scheduled services with Airlink and FlyNamibia to destinations including Cape Town, Johannesburg and Windhoek, and has also been used by Airlink as a refuelling stop on flights to Saint Helena Airport. The runway's Category 3C instrument landing system and lighting allow operations in poor weather, a valuable feature given the coastal fog common to the area. The airport also supports air freight, bonded warehousing and cold storage operations linked to Walvis Bay's port and mining activity.
