RAIlarge airport

Nelson Mandela International Airport

Praia, Cape Verde

Explore Praia city guide Navigate to this airport

Routes out

Destinations

ICAO

GVNP

Elevation

230 ft

The gateway in a glance

The Essence of Nelson Mandela International Airport

RAI

Location

Praia · S · Cape Verde

Connectivity

17 routes · 15 destinations

Position

14.941°, -23.485° · 230 ft elev.

Visa & Entry

Official visa, passport and entry information for Cape Verde is published by its governmen

AI Travel Editor

A closer look

Living guide content for Nelson Mandela International Airport — read or listen in 46+ languages.

Language

TravelerPulse profile

Cape Verde's main international gateway on Santiago Island.

Location

Praia, Cape Verde

Nelson Mandela International Airport, designated by IATA code RAI and ICAO code GVNP, serves as the primary international airport of Cape Verde, located near the capital city of Praia on Santiago Island. It is the busiest airport in the Cape Verde archipelago, handling the majority of the country's long-haul and regional air traffic. The airport was renamed in honor of South African anti-apartheid leader Nelson Mandela, reflecting the close historical and solidarity ties between Cape Verde and the African National Congress movement. It connects Praia to destinations across Europe, West Africa, and other Cape Verdean islands. A significant expansion and modernization project upgraded the airport's capacity and facilities in recent years, enabling it to accommodate growing passenger volumes and larger aircraft as Cape Verde's tourism sector has expanded.

Terminals

The airport operates a single main passenger terminal handling both international and domestic flights.

Getting to & from

Taxis and shared aluguer minibuses provide the primary ground transport links between the airport and the city center of Praia.

Airlines here

Key airlines serving the airport include TACV Cabo Verde Airlines, TAP Air Portugal, and various European charter carriers.

Notable facts

›Named after South African leader Nelson Mandela, honoring historical solidarity ties.
›Busiest airport in the Cape Verde archipelago by passenger traffic.
›Located on Santiago, the largest island of Cape Verde.
›Serves as a hub for TACV Cabo Verde Airlines.
›Connects Cape Verde to major European and West African destinations.

Wikipedia

This profile is provided for general information only. Details may be inaccurate or outdated — always verify with the airport's official website before acting on them.

Route map (15 destinations)

Leaflet © OpenStreetMap © CARTO

Airlines serving this airport

Royal Air Maroc

Voronezhskie Airlanes

Routes

RAI → BJLAT · 738

RAI → CMNAT · 73G 738

RAI → OXBAT · 738

RAI → DKRDN · CRJ

RAI → TMSDT · 73G

RAI → LPANT · CR9

RAI → LISTP · 320

RAI → BOSVR · 752

RAI → BVCVR · AT7

RAI → CDGVR · 752

RAI → DKRVR · AT7

RAI → FORVR · 752

RAI → LISVR · 738

RAI → MMOVR · AT7

RAI → SFLVR · AT7

RAI → SIDVR · AT7 738 752

RAI → VXEVR · AT7

Aircraft operating here

Aerospatiale/Alenia ATR 726 routes Boeing 737-8005 routes Boeing 757-2004 routes Boeing 737-7002 routes CRJ1 routes Canadair Regional Jet 9001 routes Airbus A3201 routes

Hotels near RAI

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Where

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City & Place Guide

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Passport, Visa & Immigration

Flying internationally via RAI? Check entry, transit and customs requirements for Cape Verde from official government sources.

Cape Verde visa & entry information →Embassy & consulate finder →

Encyclopaedia

Nelson Mandela International Airport, also known as Praia International Airport, is an international airport of Santiago Island in Cape Verde. It was opened in October 2005, replacing the old Francisco Mendes International Airport. It is located about 3 km (1.9 mi) northeast of the city centre of Praia in the southeastern part of the island of Santiago.

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