Does Malawi Airlines have a weight limit for carry-on bags?

Yes. On its Economy class fare, Malawi Airlines sets 7 kg (15.4 lb) for the cabin bag. Malawi Airlines publishes no weight limit for its personal item, only a size.

Will a 55 × 40 × 20 cm carry-on fit Malawi Airlines' limit?

Yes: against Malawi Airlines' 115 cm total limit, a hard 55 × 40 × 20 cm (21.7 × 15.7 × 7.9 in) case fits exactly at the limit on the total size.

Malawi Airlines carry-on size and personal item rules

Sub-Saharan Africa
Full-service
Verified 8 October 2026

Malawi Airlines (IATA: 3W) allows one cabin bag of 115 cm (45.3 in) in total (length + width + height) and 7 kg (15.4 lb) on its Economy class fare, plus a personal item. Verified on 8 October 2026 from the official Malawi Airlines baggage page.

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Malawi Airlines carry-on allowance by fare

Malawi Airlines (3W) cabin baggage rules, as published by the airline
Fare	Route / class	Personal item	Cabin bag	Weight
Economy class(standard)	All routes · Economy	size not published	115 cm total, 7 kg	cabin bag 7 kg

Malawi Airlines checked baggage by fare

Checked (hold) baggage included in each Malawi Airlines fare, as published by the airline
Fare	Checked baggage	Source
Economy class	Included; the number of bags and the weight depend on the route (size: 158 cm (62.2 in) in total (length + width + height))	official page

Checked baggage verified 11 October 2026. Your booking confirmation shows the exact allowance for your trip.

Checked bag fees (we never show prices, they change by route and date): see the official page

What to know about Malawi Airlines carry-on rules

From LLW, Malawi Airlines mainly connects Malawi with South Africa, Zambia, Tanzania, Kenya and Zimbabwe.
Among the 24 verified airlines from sub-Saharan Africa, Malawi Airlines has the 6th largest cabin bag allowance; the strictest is Proflight Zambia (30×25×15 cm).
In its standard fare, Malawi Airlines applies exactly the same cabin bag, personal item and weight figures as Air Botswana, Air Chathams, Air Mauritius, Akasa Air and Greater Bay Airlines and 2 more, so a bag packed for one of them also passes on Malawi Airlines.
With a total size of 115 cm (45.3 in), the Malawi Airlines cabin bag is larger than 19% of the 189 verified airlines that include a measured cabin bag in their standard fare (rank 50 of 189, largest first).
Compared with the 24 airlines from sub-Saharan Africa on this site, whose cabin bags average 113.8 cm (44.8 in) in total, Malawi Airlines allows 1.2 cm (0.5 in) more.
A standard US carry-on of 22 × 14 × 9 in (55.9 × 35.6 × 22.9 cm) fits, but with only 0.7 cm (0.3 in) to spare on the total size when measured against Malawi Airlines' 115 cm total.
Tested against Malawi Airlines' 115 cm total limit, a typical European cabin case of 55 × 40 × 20 cm (21.7 × 15.7 × 7.9 in) fits exactly at the limit on the total size.
Of 177 verified airlines with a published cabin weight limit, 93 allow more than Malawi Airlines' 7 kg (15.4 lb) for the cabin bag and 11 allow less.
Instead of three maximum sides, Malawi Airlines sets a single 115 cm limit on the sum of the cabin bag's length, width and height.
Exceptions noted on the official Malawi Airlines page: “For business class two (2) pieces each weighing 8 kg are acceptable free of charge.”

Our notes on Malawi Airlines

Malawi Airlines allows Economy class passengers one free piece of carry-on baggage of up to 7 kg. The size is given only as a total: length, width and height may not exceed 115 cm (45 in), with no separate limit for each side.

Business class passengers may carry two pieces, each up to 8 kg. In addition, every passenger may bring personal effects for use during the flight, starting with a handbag or laptop bag, a pocketbook or a purse. Flying from Lilongwe, the 115 cm total leaves some freedom in the shape of your bag, but the 7 kg is fixed.

Malawi Airlines carry-on questions

Does Malawi Airlines have a weight limit for carry-on bags?: Yes. On its Economy class fare, Malawi Airlines sets 7 kg (15.4 lb) for the cabin bag. Malawi Airlines publishes no weight limit for its personal item, only a size.
Will a 55 × 40 × 20 cm carry-on fit Malawi Airlines' limit?: Yes: against Malawi Airlines' 115 cm total limit, a hard 55 × 40 × 20 cm (21.7 × 15.7 × 7.9 in) case fits exactly at the limit on the total size.

Official sources

https://www.malawian-airlines.com/aa/information/baggage-information/carry-on-baggage — checked on 8 October 2026

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