Nelson Mandela International Airport is a large airport serving Praia, Cape Verde. Its IATA code is RAI and its ICAO code is GVNP. The airport lies at an elevation of 230 ft (70 m) above sea level. It has 1 runway(s); the longest is 03/21, 6,890 ft (2,100 m) long. Local time follows the Atlantic/Cape_Verde time zone.
Key facts
- IATA code
- RAI
- ICAO code
- GVNP
- Airport type
- Large airport
- Elevation
- 230 ft (70 m)
- Coordinates
- 14.9411, -23.4847
- Time zone
- Atlantic/Cape_Verde
- Local time now
- —
- Scheduled service
- Yes
Location
Runways
| Runway | Length | Width | Surface | Lighted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 03/21 | 6,890 ft · 2,100 m | 148 ft · 45 m | Asphalt | No |
Nearest airports
Airports with scheduled service closest to Nelson Mandela International Airport, by great-circle distance.
| Airport | City | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| MMO Maio Airport | Vila do Maio, Cape Verde | 38 km · 24 mi |
| SFL São Filipe Airport | São Filipe, Cape Verde | 107 km · 66 mi |
| BVC Aristides Pereira International Airport | Rabil, Cape Verde | 147 km · 91 mi |
| SNE Preguiça Airport | Preguiça, Cape Verde | 202 km · 126 mi |
| SID Amílcar Cabral International Airport | Espargos, Cape Verde | 208 km · 129 mi |
| VXE Cesaria Evora International Airport | São Pedro, Cape Verde | 269 km · 167 mi |
| DSS Blaise Diagne International Airport | Dakar, Senegal | 690 km · 429 mi |
| BJL Banjul International Airport | Banjul (Yundum), Gambia | 758 km · 471 mi |
Distances to major hubs
Great-circle distances from RAI. These are geographic distances, not a list of operated flights.
| Airport | km | mi | NM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CDG Paris (Roissy-en-France, Val-d'Oise) | 4,468 | 2,776 | 2,412 | View route |
| LHR London | 4,550 | 2,827 | 2,457 | View route |
| FRA Frankfurt am Main | 4,852 | 3,015 | 2,620 | View route |
| GRU São Paulo | 4,945 | 3,073 | 2,670 | View route |
| JFK New York | 5,614 | 3,488 | 3,031 | View route |
| IST Istanbul | 5,788 | 3,596 | 3,125 | View route |
| ATL Atlanta | 6,422 | 3,991 | 3,468 | View route |
| JNB Johannesburg | 7,221 | 4,487 | 3,899 | View route |
| MEX Mexico City | 7,982 | 4,960 | 4,310 | View route |
| DXB Dubai | 8,207 | 5,100 | 4,431 | View route |
| LAX Los Angeles | 9,528 | 5,921 | 5,145 | View route |
| DEL New Delhi | 10,215 | 6,347 | 5,516 | View route |
| PEK Beijing | 12,636 | 7,852 | 6,823 | View route |
| SIN Singapore | 13,962 | 8,676 | 7,539 | View route |
| HND Tokyo | 14,131 | 8,780 | 7,630 | View route |
| SYD Sydney (Mascot) | 17,835 | 11,082 | 9,630 | View route |
Radio frequencies
Not for navigation. Always use official, current aeronautical publications.
| Type | Description | MHz |
|---|---|---|
| APP | PRAIA APP | 118.200 |
| TWR | PRAIA TWR | 118.200 |
External links
External links come from the source dataset and are not independently verified by FlyingWorld.
Frequently asked questions
What is the airport code of Nelson Mandela International Airport?
The IATA code of Nelson Mandela International Airport is RAI and its ICAO code is GVNP.
Where is Nelson Mandela International Airport located?
Nelson Mandela International Airport is in Praia, Sotavento Islands, Cape Verde, at 14.9411, -23.4847.
What time zone is Nelson Mandela International Airport in?
Nelson Mandela International Airport uses the IANA time zone Atlantic/Cape_Verde. Daylight saving time, where applicable, is applied automatically by the clock on this page.
How long is the longest runway at Nelson Mandela International Airport?
The longest runway listed is 03/21, 6,890 ft (2,100 m) long.
What is the nearest airport to Nelson Mandela International Airport?
The nearest airport with scheduled service in our directory is Maio Airport (MMO), about 38 km (24 mi) away.
Source: OurAirports (data updated: 9 November 2026). Not for navigation. Always use official, current aeronautical publications.