--- iata: NKC name: Nouakchott–Oumtounsy International Airport city: Nouakchott country: Mauritania lastUpdated: '2026-10-26' sources: - 'https://www.diplomatie.gov.mr/fr/node/50' - 'https://anrpts.gov.mr/visa/requestvisa' - >- https://www.lca.logcluster.org/224-mauritanie-aeroport-international-oumtounsy-de-nouakchott - >- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nouakchott%E2%80%93Oumtounsy_International_Airport - >- https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%C3%A9roport_international_de_Nouakchott-Oumtounsy - 'https://info.flightmapper.net/airport/NKC' - >- https://lematin.ma/economie/royal-air-maroc-et-mauritania-airlines-signent-un-accord-strategique/271300 - 'https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/mauritania/entry-requirements' - 'https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/mauritania/safety-and-security' - >- https://www.trade.gov/country-commercial-guides/mauritania-prohibited-and-restricted-imports - 'https://thislounge.com/nkc' - 'https://loungeiq.com/airport/NKC' - 'https://scootwestafrica.com/nouakchott-airport-info/' - 'https://www.bourse-des-vols.com/guide-aeroports/aeroport-de-nouakchott.html' - >- https://www.aeroport-nouakchott.com/fr/taxis_location_vehicules_nouakchott.php - >- https://fr.madar.mr/actualites/les-autorites-se-preparent-a-ouvrir-une-zone-daccueil-dans-la-zone-des-arrivees-de-laeroport-international-de-nouakchott/ - 'https://cridem.org/C_Info.php?article=771841' quickFacts: - >- Nouakchott–Oumtounsy International Airport (IATA NKC, ICAO GQNO) is the main airport of Mauritania and serves the capital, Nouakchott. It lies about 25 km north of the city and opened on 23 June 2016, replacing the old airport in the city centre. - >- One passenger terminal, built for about 2 million passengers a year. The airport is run by Afroport. - >- Mauritania does not publish annual passenger figures for the airport. Nearly all scheduled flights are international. - >- International flights (October 2026 schedules): Air France (SkyTeam) to Paris-CDG; Turkish Airlines (Star Alliance) to Istanbul, with some flights via Banjul; Royal Air Maroc (oneworld) to Casablanca; Tunisair to Tunis; Air Algérie to Algiers; Binter to Gran Canaria; Air Sénégal to Dakar; ASKY to Lomé and Conakry. - >- Mauritania Airlines, the national carrier, is based here. It flies to Casablanca, Dakar, Gran Canaria, Bamako, Abidjan and Conakry, and domestically to Nouadhibou, Zouérat and Néma. - 'Two concrete runways: 16/34 (3,400 m) and 06/24 (2,400 m).' - >- Since 5 January 2025 there is no visa on arrival. Most visitors need an e-visa, applied for online before travel. The fee is paid in cash on arrival: €55 or $60 for a 30-day visa for most nationalities. Bring the exact amount, because no change is given. bentoTips: - label: Timing title: Get the e-visa before you fly detail: >- Mauritania stopped issuing visas on arrival on 5 January 2025. Apply online through the ANRPTS e-visa portal well before travel and print the approval. You pay at the airport in exact cash: €55 or $60 for a 30-day visa for most nationalities. No change or receipt is given. summary: E-visa online first; exact euros or dollars at the border. category: timing - label: Terminal title: 'One terminal, few frills' detail: >- Every flight uses the single terminal opened in 2016, so you cannot go to the wrong building. Usually only passengers can enter. Escalators and baggage carousels have often broken down, and Mauritanian press and logistics reports criticise the toilets and lighting. Allow extra time at baggage reclaim. summary: Single terminal; equipment breakdowns are common. category: terminal - label: Food title: 'A café and duty free, not much more' detail: >- After security there is a duty-free shop, a café and a lounge. Travel guides describe the food choice as slim, so eat before you leave the city if you have a long wait. There are ATMs, but they have been reported out of service, so bring euros or dollars. summary: Very limited food; bring cash and snacks. category: food - label: Status title: 'One VIP lounge, listed with Priority Pass' detail: >- The only lounge is airside. Lounge directories list it as the Ya Marhaba VIP Lounge and say it accepts Priority Pass. Other listings use different names, and opening hours and airline access rules are not published. Check your membership app before you rely on it. summary: One small airside lounge; check access in the app. category: status lounges: - name: Ya Marhaba VIP Lounge access: - Priority Pass (per lounge directories) bestFor: - Priority Pass members with time before departure summary: >- The airport's only lounge, airside, listed with Priority Pass access; hours and food offer not published. verdict: depends terminal: Main terminal amenities: - 'Airside, after security and passport control' waterOptions: [] airportistScore: 4.4 slug: nkc region: Africa --- > Markdown for [/airports/nkc](/airports/nkc). Append `.md` to any page URL (or send `Accept: text/markdown`) for an agent-readable copy. - [HTML page](/airports/nkc) - [Lounge directory](/airports/nkc/lounges.md) - [Sitemap](/sitemap.md) # Nouakchott–Oumtounsy International Airport (NKC) Nouakchott, Mauritania · Africa Mauritania's main airport, 25 km north of Nouakchott, opened in 2016. Flights go to Paris, Istanbul, Casablanca, Tunis, Algiers, Gran Canaria, Dakar and West Africa. It is easy to navigate but basic: get the e-visa before you fly, bring exact cash for the fee, expect little food and frequent equipment breakdowns, and take a taxi into town. ## Airportist Score **4.4 / 10** Weighted sum of the six published categories (no holistic fudge). - Ease of use (25%): 5.5 — Wayfinding, security wait, and layout. - Comfort & amenities (20%): 4.0 — Seating, Wi-Fi, cleanliness, and quiet. - Food & retail (15%): 3.0 — Food and retail quality and variety. - Ground access (15%): 3.5 — Transit, taxi, and parking to the city. - Reliability (15%): 5.5 — Delays, cancellations, and weather resilience. - Lounges (10%): 4.0 — Worth-it density and access quality. ## At a glance - Passengers: Not published (HonestAirport estimate: about 0.8 million) - Terminals: One passenger terminal (opened 2016) - Typical security: 20 min - On-time: 72% - Disruption: normal ## Best for - Travellers to Nouakchott and Mauritania - Star Alliance connections via Istanbul on Turkish Airlines - SkyTeam and oneworld connections via Paris and Casablanca ## Watch out for - No visa on arrival since January 2025: get the e-visa first - Visa fee in exact euros or dollars, no change given - Alcohol and pork are banned; all bags are scanned on arrival - Escalators and baggage carousels often out of service - Taxi only into town; agree the fare and currency first ## More intel - [Lounge directory](/airports/nkc/lounges.md) (free) - [Map](/airports/nkc/map.md) (free) - [Getting there](/airports/nkc/getting-there.md) (free) - [Amenities](/airports/nkc/amenities.md) (free) - [Traveler tips](/airports/nkc/tips.md) (free) - [Water](/airports/nkc/water.md) (free) - [Visa](/airports/nkc/visa.md) (free) - [Full guide](/airports/nkc/guide.md) (free) - [Disruptions](/airports/nkc/disruptions.md) (free) - [Reviews](/airports/nkc/reviews.md) (free)