Flights direct from Europe, non-European cities and other islands in the area, although few and far between, land at either Moroni, on Grande Comore island, or Mayotte. Once in Mayotte, inter-island flights on local airlines are possible, but very expensive.
The airport at Moroni, Hahaya, is 19km (12mi) north of the city centre. After paying for your on-the-spot visa you can get to the city centre by taxi, although a lack of money-changing facilities at the airport means the fares rocket into the upper stratosphere. Planes flying into Mayotte land at Petite Terre (Pamandzi), and getting to the mainland of Grand Terre requires catching a share taxi to the ferry terminal at Dzaoudzi, and then catching another taxi, or walking, to your hotel, at the other end. There are no money-changing facilities at Pamandzi airport either, so fly in with euros already in your pocket.
You can sometimes get a berth on ships sailing from mainland Africa to Madagascar, and they'll drop you off at either Grande Comore or Anjouan on the way. This method requires diligence and patience, as there are no ready-made systems to handle foreigners from the mainland travelling to Comoros by sea.
Getting There by Air
Airlines operating to the Comoros include Air Austral, Air Madagascar, Air Tanzania Corporation, Sudan Airlines and Yemenia Yemen Airways. Air France operates regularly from Paris via Réunion.
Approximate Flight Times
To Moroni from London takes a minimum of 20 hours; this includes stopovers (usually in Paris and Réunion).
Main Airports
Moroni International Prince Said Ibrahim (HAH), 25km (16 miles) north of the city. To/from the airport: Taxis are available to the town (journey time – 30 minutes). Taxis do not have meters but prices are fixed. Make sure you know the price before boarding the taxi. Facilities: Bars and light refreshments, left luggage and a post office are available for international flights. There are no money-changing facilities at the airport.
Departure Tax
None.
Getting There by Water
There are irregular sailings from East Africa (Mombasa, Kenya), Madagascar, Mauritius, Réunion or Zanzibar to Moroni or Mutsamudu. These are mostly cargo ships which might carry passengers.