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The Pilots Desk
Large airportScheduled service

Nelson Mandela International Airport

IATA RAIICAO GVNP🇨🇻 Praia
Coordinates
14.9411°N, 23.4847°W
Elevation
230 ft (70 m)
Type
Large airport
Region
CV-S
Time zone
Cape Verde(UTC-01:00)
Magnetic variation
8.3° W

Daylight today(Jul 13, 2026, local time)

Civil dawn
05:49
Sunrise
06:12
Sunset
19:09
Civil dusk
19:32

About 12h 57m of daylight. Civil twilight (dawn/dusk) approximates the FAA definition of night for logging and currency. Times are computed and approximate — verify with official sources.

About Nelson Mandela International Airport

Nelson Mandela International Airport

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.

Summary from Wikipedia, photo via Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA.

Live weather

GVNP

Live departures & arrivals

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Flight data by AeroDataBox. Times are estimates — not for navigation; confirm with the airline.

Where you can fly from here

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Current scheduled routes & daily frequency by AeroDataBox. Approximate — confirm bookable schedules with the airline.

Map

Runway centrelines, navaids and overlapping airspace. Tiles © OpenStreetMap contributors. Reference only — not for navigation.

Runways (3)

RunwayLengthWidthSurfaceLightingStatus
03 / 21▸ displaced6,890 ft / 2,100 m148 ftAspUnlitOpen
03R / 21L▸ displaced6,876 ft / 2,096 m148 ftAspLightedClosed
03L / 21R4,209 ft / 1,283 m98 ftAspLightedClosed

Radio frequencies (2)

TypeDescriptionFrequency
APPPRAIA APP118.200 MHz
TWRPRAIA TWR118.200 MHz

Services & operations

Services
ShopsDiningTransportation

The airport has a 2100m runway and can handle up to 1300 passengers per hour.

From the airport’s official website — details may change, so confirm with the airport. Official site

Airlines & destinations

Nonstop destinations (15)

Route data from OpenFlights — historical and may be out of date. Check current schedules.

Nearby airports

Great-circle distance and true bearing from Nelson Mandela International Airport.

Official site Wikipedia Live ATC audio Live tracking (FR24) Open in Maps
🇨🇻 More airports in Cape Verde

Frequently asked questions

What is the ICAO code for Nelson Mandela International Airport?

The ICAO code for Nelson Mandela International Airport is GVNP, and its IATA code is RAI.

Where is Nelson Mandela International Airport located?

Nelson Mandela International Airport is large airport located in Praia, Cape Verde, at an elevation of 230 ft (70 m).

How many runways does Nelson Mandela International Airport have?

Nelson Mandela International Airport has 3 runways, the longest being 6,890 ft / 2,100 m.

Which airlines fly to Nelson Mandela International Airport?

Airlines historically serving Nelson Mandela International Airport include Binter Canarias, Royal Air Maroc, Senegal Airlines, TAAG Angola Airlines, TACV, TAP Portugal (based on OpenFlights route data, which may be out of date).

How many destinations are served from Nelson Mandela International Airport?

Historical data lists 15 nonstop destinations from Nelson Mandela International Airport. Always check current schedules.

What time zone is Nelson Mandela International Airport in?

Nelson Mandela International Airport is in the Atlantic/Cape Verde time zone (UTC-01:00).

What is the magnetic variation at Nelson Mandela International Airport?

The magnetic variation (declination) at Nelson Mandela International Airport is approximately 8.3° W, per the World Magnetic Model. Variation changes slowly over time — always use the current value charted for navigation.

What airports are near Nelson Mandela International Airport?

The nearest airport to Nelson Mandela International Airport is Maio Airport (MMO), about 20.3 nm to the ne, followed by Mosteiros Airport and São Filipe Airport.

Is the information on this page suitable for flight planning?

No. Nelson Mandela International Airport data here is for reference and training only — not for navigation. Always consult official sources and current charts before any flight.