Diani Airport (IATA code UKA and ICAO code HKUK) is a small regional airport near Diani Beach in Kwale County, Kenya. Aviation references list one runway, 01/19, with a hard or asphalt surface, a length of roughly 1,160–1,175 metres depending on source and measurement, and coordinates around 4°17′S, 39°34′E. Traveler-facing sources call it Diani Airport because it serves Diani Beach, but aviation data usually lists it as Ukunda Airport or HKUK.
This page is a technical reference for travelers, researchers, aviation readers and operators who need the underlying airport facts behind the travel guide. It should be more precise than the homepage, but still explain why the data matters.
AC-U-KWIK identifies the airport as HKUK / UKA, located in Ukunda, Kenya, and lists airport hours as HJ, control tower hours as HJ, customs as No, open 24 hours as No, and distance from city as 6 km southeast of town. Flight Plan Database lists runway 01/19, asphalt surface, width 59 ft / 18 m, length 3,855 ft / 1,175 m, and visual markings/lighting data. METAR-TAF describes Ukunda Airstrip as a small airport in Kwale, Kenya, located at latitude -4.29330 and longitude 39.57110, with one runway, 1/19.
What are the airport codes for Diani Airport?
Diani Airport’s IATA code is UKA and its ICAO code is HKUK.
| Code type | Code | Main use |
|---|---|---|
| IATA | UKA | Airline booking, passenger tickets, travel search |
| ICAO | HKUK | Aviation systems, flight planning, technical references |
For normal travelers, UKA is the most important code. For pilots, aviation databases and technical references, HKUK is the key identifier.
The name “Diani Airport” is common in tourism, but aviation references generally list the airport as Ukunda or HKUK.
What are the coordinates of Diani Airport?
Diani Airport / Ukunda Airport is located around 4°17′ south latitude and 39°34′ east longitude.
Different aviation references express the coordinates in slightly different formats:
| Source style | Coordinate format |
|---|---|
| METAR-TAF | Latitude -4.29330, longitude 39.57110 |
| Common supplied aviation format | S4°17.62′ / E39°34.27′ |
| General airport descriptions | Near Ukunda, Kwale County, Kenya |
METAR-TAF’s profile identifies the airport at -4.29330, 39.57110. These coordinates place it near Ukunda and Diani Beach on Kenya’s south coast.
For normal travelers, coordinates are less important than the airport code UKA. For aviation and mapping, coordinates matter.
What is the elevation of Diani Airport?
Published sources vary slightly on the airport’s elevation. AC-U-KWIK’s profile includes elevation 43 ft, while other airport listings may show around 98 ft / 30 m(AMSL)
Why elevation matters
| Reader type | Why elevation matters |
|---|---|
| Travelers | Mostly general context |
| Pilots | Performance and flight planning |
| Researchers | Airport profile accuracy |
| Aviation writers | Technical airport description |
| Developers | Structured airport data |
The key travel fact is that the airport is a low-elevation coastal airfield near Diani Beach.
What runway does Diani Airport use?
Diani Airport uses runway 01/19.
Flight Plan Database lists runway 01 and 19 with asphalt surface, width 59 ft / 18 m, and length 3,855 ft / 1,175 m. Other common background sources list the runway close to 3,806–3,851 ft or 1,160–1,174 m. These differences are small and may reflect source updates, measurement conventions or pre-/post-upgrade data.
Runway summary
| Runway item | Published data range |
|---|---|
| Runway | 01/19 |
| Surface | Asphalt / hard / tarmac |
| Width | About 59 ft / 18 m |
| Length | Roughly 3,806–3,855 ft / 1,160–1,175 m in common sources |
| Use | Regional and domestic aircraft operations |
| Airport type | Small regional / coastal airport |
Because expansion works have been reported, runway length should be checked against the most recent official or aviation-source data when publishing technical claims.
What are the runway headings at Diani Airport?
Runway numbering 01/19 means the runway is oriented broadly north-south.
Flight Plan Database lists runway 01 with true/magnetic bearings around 2.25° / 3.18°, and runway 19 with bearings around 182.25° / 183.19°.
Runway orientation
| End | Direction logic |
|---|---|
| Runway 01 | Approx. northbound heading |
| Runway 19 | Approx. southbound heading |
For travelers, runway heading is not important. For aviation readers, it explains how aircraft approach and depart relative to wind and local conditions.
What is the Diani Airport tower frequency?
The frequency of UKA is DIANI TWR 118.95 as the tower frequency according to Aviation Safety. Some public airport-data results may not show that full tower frequency clearly without subscription or premium access.
Frequency guidance
| Reader | Advice |
|---|---|
| General traveler | Frequency is not needed |
| Aviation enthusiast | Useful reference only |
| Pilot/operator | Confirm through official AIP/NOTAM/current flight planning data |
| Website publisher | Label as reference data, not operational clearance |
Never treat a website article as the final operational source for flying.
What are the airport hours and customs details?
AC-U-KWIK lists Ukunda Airport as:
- Open 24 hours: No
- Airport hours: HJ
- Control tower hours: HJ
- Customs: No
- Airport of Entry: No in related profile context
What HJ means for travelers
In aviation usage, HJ generally refers to daylight hours. For travelers, the practical meaning is simple: do not assume Diani Airport operates like JKIA or Mombasa with full 24-hour international capability.
Traveler implications
| Data point | Practical meaning |
|---|---|
| Open 24 hours: No | Use published airline schedules |
| HJ airport hours | Do not assume late-night operations |
| Customs: No | Do not treat UKA as normal international entry point |
| Airport of Entry: No | International travelers should enter through approved airports |
| Small regional airport | Facilities and schedules are limited compared with major hubs |
This is why international travelers usually enter Kenya through JKIA or Mombasa, then connect to Diani.
What airports are near Diani Airport?
Diani Airport sits within a coastal and regional airport network. The most important nearby practical airport for travelers is Mombasa Moi International Airport.
Your supplied background also lists nearby instrument-procedure airports such as:
- Mombasa Moi Airport;
- Tanga Airport;
- Pemba / Chake Chake;
- Malindi Airport;
- Nungwi;
- Abeid Amani Karume / Zanzibar;
- Kilimanjaro;
- Arusha.
Nearby airport relevance
| Airport | Relevance |
|---|---|
| Mombasa Moi Airport | Main alternative for Diani travelers |
| Malindi Airport | North coast, Watamu/Malindi access |
| Tanga | Tanzania coastal reference |
| Zanzibar | Regional island route context |
| Arusha / Kilimanjaro | Tanzania safari route context |
| Wilson Airport | Nairobi safari connection, although not geographically nearby |
| JKIA | International gateway connection |
For travelers, the main comparison is still UKA vs MBA. For aviation readers, the regional network provides broader context.
Why does this aviation data matter for travelers?
Aviation data explains why Diani Airport behaves the way it does.
The airport’s runway length, regional status, non-24-hour profile and no-customs status help explain why:
- Diani Airport is convenient but small;
- most flights are domestic or regional tourism-focused;
- international travelers usually connect through JKIA or Mombasa;
- airline schedules are more limited than Mombasa;
- baggage and aircraft type matter;
- expansion works are important;
- travelers should not assume large-airport facilities.
Aviation data translated for travelers
| Technical fact | Traveler meaning |
|---|---|
| UKA / HKUK | Correct airport to book |
| Runway 01/19 | One main runway |
| Small regional airport | Limited facilities and schedules |
| No customs | Not normal international entry |
| Not open 24 hours | Follow airline schedule closely |
| Runway extension works | Future capacity may improve |
| Near Diani Beach | Shorter transfer than Mombasa |
This is the bridge between aviation data and practical travel planning.
Diani Airport aviation data summary table
| Data field | Information |
|---|---|
| Common name | Diani Airport |
| Official / aviation name | Ukunda Airport / Ukunda Airstrip |
| IATA code | UKA |
| ICAO code | HKUK |
| Country | Kenya |
| County | Kwale County |
| Main destination served | Diani Beach |
| Coordinates | Around -4.29330, 39.57110 |
| Runway | 01/19 |
| Surface | Asphalt / hard / tarmac |
| Runway length | Approx. 1,160–1,175 m in common public sources |
| Runway width | Approx. 18 m / 59 ft |
| Airport hours | HJ in AC-U-KWIK profile |
| Open 24 hours | No in AC-U-KWIK profile |
| Customs | No in AC-U-KWIK profile |
| Tower frequency | Supplied background lists DIANI TWR 118.95; confirm operationally |
| Main traveler value | Closest airport to Diani Beach |
Final answer: what are the key aviation facts for Diani Airport?
Diani Airport is officially Ukunda Airport, with IATA code UKA and ICAO code HKUK. It is a small regional airport near Diani Beach in Kwale County, Kenya, with one main runway, 01/19, a hard/asphalt surface, and published runway lengths around 1,160–1,175 metres in common public sources.
For travelers, the technical data explains the airport’s role: UKA is close to Diani Beach and very convenient for domestic and safari-to-coast travel, but it should not be treated like a 24-hour international airport. International travelers should normally enter Kenya through JKIA or Mombasa, then connect to Diani by domestic flight or road transfer.