Airports / Cape Verde / RAI
Nelson Mandela International Airport
GVNP / RAIPraia, Cape VerdeELEV 230 FT
Field elevation
Nearest alternate
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).
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.
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.
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