Cabo Verde boasts of 10 airports for both domestic and international flights. The Nelson Mandela International Airport is located in the beautiful capital city of Praia. As with most of Cabo Verde’s infrastructure, the Nelson Mandela International Airport has a historical background.
The Praia International Airport serves Cabo Verde’s Santiago Island. It opened in October 2005, replacing the old Francisco Mendes International Airport and is located at about 3 km North-East of the city center of Praia in the South-Eastern part of the Island of Santiago.
The first flight to the new airport was on 6th October, 2005 with a flight arriving from Sal Island and even though the airport serves the capital and largest city, Praia as well as. the island of Santiago, Cabo Verde's busiest international airport, remains the Amílcar Cabral International Airport located on the smaller island of Sal.
In January 2012 the government of Cabo Verde issued a statement to the effect that the Praia International Airport would be renamed after South Africa's former president Nelson Mandela, an icon for freedom in Africa. In addition, there were some modernization works, including a new departures hall, which were scheduled for completion in July 2018.
“Cabo Verde has decided to rename its Praia International Airport after South Africa's former president Nelson Mandela, an icon for freedom in Africa” the statement read.
Praia Airport, which was opened to international flights in September 2005, caters mainly to the Cabo Verdean diaspora; Sal Airport, which previously handled all international flights, currently serves mainly the tourist industry of Sal Island.
You're most welcome to visit Cabo Verde through the Nelson Mandela International Airport. We can't wait to have you here.
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