First and foremost, by virtue of being the first airport on Sal Island, it was built in 1939 by the Italian government, it was built to serve as a fuel and provisions stopping-point on routes from Europe to South America. The first flight on arrival from Rome and Seville was on the 15th of December 1939. Until September 2005, it was the only airport in Cape Verde to serve international flights.
- Naming of the Airport
The airport is named after the revolutionary leader Amílcar Cabral who was a leader in the struggle for independence in Guinea-Bissau and Cabo Verde.
-Distance from the city center
Amilcar Cabral International Airport is located two kilometers west-southwest from Espargos on Sal Island, transiting from the airport to the city center takes on average less than ten minutes.
-Space shuttle
This airport was also one of NASA's locations for a facility to handle the Space Shuttle after reentering from orbit. The airports’ main runway is 3,272 m (10,734 ft) long and is the longest in Cape Verde.
It is used for both short and long-haul flights; it also served as one of the designated emergency landing strips for the U.S. Space Shuttle
-Link
The airport is located on the west side of the road (EN1-SL01) linking Espargos and Santa Maria (the island's main tourist destination). Although there is no scheduled public transport; taxicabs, shared cars known as "aluguer", and rental cars are available.
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