4/ 5 reviews
Terminal & facilities
“Overall a pretty solid airport and modern airport.”
Sean Miller5★ on Google
Airports / Cape Verde / RAI
Large airport · RAI
Nelson Mandela International Airport.
Praia, Cape Verde · 230 ft elevation. A private-aviation gateway on the Bravo register.
3.8/5
Google rating
959 ratings
0
Operators based
230
Elevation ft
Scheduled service
Praia, Cape VerdeELEV 230 FTLarge airportScheduled service
3.8
Google rating
959
Google reviews
ratings on Google
230
Field elevation
feet above sea level
20
Nearest alternate
nm to MMO
Field standing
20 nm
To the nearest alternate
Maio Airport (MMO).
Overview
Nelson Mandela International Airport (GVNP / RAI) sits in Praia, Cape Verde, where it functions as a large commercial airport. Field elevation is 230 feet above sea level. Scheduled carriers operate here, and the field also sees regular private and charter activity.
While no charter operators list RAI as their home base, the field is reachable for repositioned charter aircraft from nearby bases. The closest alternate fields are Maio Airport (MMO, 20 nm), Aristides Pereira International Airport (BVC, 80 nm), and Preguiça Airport (SNE, 109 nm). The field has a single 6,890-foot paved runway, long enough for charter aircraft up to VIP airliners.
Trip costs from RAI are driven by the aircraft category flown and how far it must reposition. You may also see the field referenced as Santiago Island. Browse operators flying from the area or estimate a trip cost from RAI to plan your flight.
Run an FBO at GVNP? Become the preferred FBO
What fliers highlight.
From the stored review texts
2/ 5 reviews
Staff & service
“The service is top-notch.”
Василий Попович5★ on Google
Themes counted by keyword across Google review texts for Nelson Mandela International Airport, every quote is verbatim from a real review.
Field capability
ICAO
GVNP
IATA
RAI
FAA / Local
GVNP
Elevation
230 ft
Coordinates
14.9411° N · 23.4847° W
Airspace
G · GolfClass G, GolfUncontrolled field, no tower. Pilots self-announce and sequence themselves on the common traffic advisory frequency.Source: FAA NASR class airspace
Size
Large
Scheduled svc
Yes
Elevation vs Cape Verde fields
state range 36–669 ft
At 230 ft, RAI sits higher than 67% of the 6 Cape Verde fields on the register.
Runways & aircraft access
1 runway
longest 6,890 ft
- 03/216,890 ft × 148 ftAsphaltUnlit
Which aircraft can operate here
vs longest paved runway 6,890 ft
RAI's 6,890 ft paved runway typically supports charter aircraft up to VIP airliners.
- Turboprop3,000 ft
- Light Jet3,500 ft
- Midsize Jet4,500 ft
- Super-Midsize Jet5,000 ft
- Heavy Jet5,500 ft
- VIP Airliner6,000 ft
Class minimums are sea-level planning rules of thumb. A specific aircraft's balanced-field length varies with weight, temperature, and field elevation. Confirm performance with the operator.
Access & alternates
Closest alternate fields by great-circle distance, every listing links to its own field brief.
- 20nmMMOMaio AirportVila do Maio
- 80nmBVCAristides Pereira International AirportRabil
- 109nmSNEPreguiça AirportPreguiça
- 112nmSIDAmílcar Cabral International AirportEspargos
- 145nmVXECesaria Evora International AirportSão Pedro
- 349nmDKRLéopold Sédar Senghor International AirportDakar
Location
Open the full mapGVNP · Nelson Mandela International Airport · Praia, Cape Verde
Flight times from here
Approximate nonstop block times from RAI on a typical midsize charter jet. Faster classes trim these; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.
| Destination | Distance | Block time |
|---|---|---|
| Boston (BED) | 2,957 nm | 7h 17m |
| New York (TEB) | 3,047 nm | 7h 29m |
| Washington DC (IAD) | 3,172 nm | 7h 47m |
| Palm Beach (PBI) | 3,229 nm | 7h 55m |
| Miami (MIA) | 3,239 nm | 7h 56m |
| Nashville (BNA) | 3,587 nm | 8h 45m |
| Chicago (ORD) | 3,671 nm | 8h 56m |
| Houston (HOU) | 4,026 nm | 9h 46m |
Common questions
- What size private jets can use RAI?
- Nelson Mandela International Airport's longest paved runway is 6,890 ft, which typically supports charter aircraft up to VIP airliners. Lighter classes (turboprops, light and midsize jets) operate comfortably; confirm exact performance for a specific tail with the operator, since balanced-field length shifts with weight, temperature, and elevation.
- What is the longest runway at RAI?
- Nelson Mandela International Airport has one runway; the longest measures 6,890 ft on a paved surface.
- What is the nearest major airport to RAI?
- The closest alternate is Maio Airport (MMO), about 20 nm away, followed by Aristides Pereira International Airport (BVC) at 80 nm. Operators often position aircraft between these fields depending on ramp space and availability.
- How long is a flight from RAI to major cities?
- Typical block times on a midsize jet: Boston about 7h 17m (2,957 nm), New York about 7h 29m (3,047 nm), Washington DC about 7h 47m (3,172 nm). Faster classes trim these times; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.