---
iata: RAI
name: Nelson Mandela International Airport
city: Praia
country: Cape Verde
lastUpdated: '2026-09-19'
officialWebsite: 'https://www.caboverde-airports.cv/en/aeroportos/praia-international-airport/'
sources:
  - 'https://www.caboverde-airports.cv/en/aeroportos/praia-international-airport/'
  - 'https://www.caboverde-airports.cv/en/homepage/'
  - 'https://www.prioritypass.com/en-GB/lounges'
  - 'https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nelson_Mandela_International_Airport'
quickFacts:
  - IATA RAI / ICAO GVNP - Praia Nelson Mandela (Santiago)
  - >-
    GPS 14.9242, -23.4939 | elev 95 m | ~3 km NE of Praia centre (Cabo Verde
    Airports)
  - Runway 2100x45 m | ~1300 pax/hour | apron up to six medium aircraft
  - >-
    No Priority Pass lounge at RAI (research day); CV PP pin if any was
    SID-associated and not live
  - Close-in capital gateway - taxi to Plateau typically short
  - No official MCT or security wait minutes - omitted
bentoTips:
  - label: No PP
    title: No Priority Pass lounge at RAI
    detail: Cafe / duty-free only for independent travelers.
    summary: Do not confuse with Sal (SID) - RAI has no live PP lounge.
    category: timing
  - label: Close-in
    title: ~3 km from Praia centre
    detail: Long waits are often better spent in the Plateau than airside.
    summary: 'Cabo Verde Airports: about 3 km northeast of the capital.'
    category: terminal
  - label: Airside
    title: 'Cafe and duty-free, not a lounge'
    detail: Eat in town if the schedule allows a short taxi hop.
    summary: Independent lounge access is not a RAI product on research day.
    category: food
  - label: Ground
    title: Short taxi into Praia
    detail: Confirm live CVE fares; omit invented prices.
    summary: Capital-close field - taxis to Plateau / hotels are the default.
    category: status
lounges: []
waterOptions: []
airportistScore: 6.2
slug: rai
region: Africa
---
> Markdown for [/airports/rai](/airports/rai). Append `.md` to any page URL (or send `Accept: text/markdown`) for an agent-readable copy.

- [HTML page](/airports/rai)
- [Lounge directory](/airports/rai/lounges.md)
- [Sitemap](/sitemap.md)

# Nelson Mandela International Airport (RAI)
Praia, Cape Verde · Africa
Praia's Nelson Mandela gateway ~3 km from the capital on Santiago - compact 2100 m runway plant with ~1300 pax/hour capacity and no Priority Pass lounge on research day.
## Airportist Score

**6.2 / 10**
Weighted sum of the six published categories (no holistic fudge).
- Ease of use (25%): 7.0 — Wayfinding, security wait, and layout.
- Comfort & amenities (20%): 6.0 — Seating, Wi-Fi, cleanliness, and quiet.
- Food & retail (15%): 5.8 — Food and retail quality and variety.
- Ground access (15%): 7.4 — Transit, taxi, and parking to the city.
- Reliability (15%): 6.6 — Delays, cancellations, and weather resilience.
- Lounges (10%): 2.5 — Worth-it density and access quality.

## At a glance

- Passengers: undefined
- Terminals: Main passenger complex
- Typical security: undefined min
- On-time: undefined%
- Disruption: normal

## Best for

- Capital city arrivals to Praia Plateau
- Inter-island connectors without needing a lounge
- Travelers using short Arrivals taxis

## Watch out for

- No Priority Pass lounge
- Basic airside F&B
- No published MCT
- Confirm live CVE taxi fares

## More intel

- [Lounge directory](/airports/rai/lounges.md) (free)
- [Getting there](/airports/rai/getting-there.md) (free)
- [Amenities](/airports/rai/amenities.md) (free)
- [Traveler tips](/airports/rai/tips.md) (free)
- [Water](/airports/rai/water.md) (free)
- [Full guide](/airports/rai/guide.md) (free)
- [Disruptions](/airports/rai/disruptions.md) (free)
- [Reviews](/airports/rai/reviews.md) (free)