Cape Verde Airport: Size, Scale, And Significance

Cape Verde has seven airports, which have been historically important for the economy and development of the country. The main international airport is Amílcar Cabral International Airport, also known as Sal International Airport. The airport is located 2 kilometres west-southwest of Espargos on Sal Island. The airport's main runway is 3,272 metres long, making it the longest in Cape Verde. It is used for long-haul flights and was also designated as an emergency landing strip for the U.S. Space Shuttle.

Amílcar Cabral International Airport is Cape Verde's main airport

Amílcar Cabral International Airport, also known as Sal International Airport, is the main international airport of Cape Verde. The airport is named after the revolutionary leader Amílcar Cabral. It is located 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) west-southwest of Espargos on Sal Island. Sal is the main hub for the national airline, Cabo Verde Airlines, and serves as a base for the carrier Cabo Verde Express.

The airport's main runway is 3,272 m (10,734 ft) long, making it the longest in Cape Verde. It is used for long-haul flights and was designated as an emergency landing strip for the U.S. Space Shuttle. The second runway, which is now closed, was 1,500 m (4,921 ft) long and was used by small planes. Amílcar Cabral International Airport has one terminal building with two storeys, housing check-in, waiting, and arrival areas, as well as shopping, banking, and passenger services. The second floor is dedicated to airport operations and airline offices.

The airport was first built by Italy in 1939 as a fuel and provisions stop on routes from Europe to South America. However, due to World War II, Italian involvement in the project ceased, and the airport was purchased by the Portuguese colonial government. By 1949, the airport was fully operational. Between 1960 and 1967, Sal Airport served as a stop for the Voo da Amizade (Friendship Flight) between Brazil and Portugal. During this time, it was also used by the Portuguese Air Force as their No 1 Transit Airfield, supporting military air connections and serving as an operational base for maritime patrol aircraft.

In 1985, TACV began servicing Boston, Massachusetts, to cater to the large Cape Verdean community there. However, these flights have since been shifted to Praia International Airport. Amílcar Cabral International Airport currently offers international flights to Amsterdam, Lisbon, Luxembourg, Madrid, Paris, and Porto, as well as domestic flights within Cape Verde.

It has Cape Verde's longest runway at 3,272m (10,734 ft)

Cape Verde's airports have been of great importance to the country's economy and development, as the country is an archipelago, and therefore cannot have terrestrial links between its main cities and towns. The Amílcar Cabral International Airport, also known as Sal International Airport, is the main international airport of Cape Verde. It is located 2 kilometres west-southwest of Espargos on Sal Island.

Sal Island's airport was first built in 1939 by Italy and was used as a fuel and provisions stop on routes from Europe to South America. The airport was then purchased by the Portuguese colonial government after World War II and was fully operational by 1949. The airport was also one of NASA's locations for handling the U.S. Space Shuttle, and it continues to be used for long-haul flights.

The airport's main runway is 3,272m (10,734 ft) long, making it the longest runway in Cape Verde. It also has a second runway, which is 1,500m (4,921 ft) long, but it is currently closed for traffic. The long main runway has likely made the airport the best-suited for handling large aircraft and international flights. The airport has a single terminal building with two floors, housing check-in, waiting, and arrival areas, as well as various passenger services.

The Amílcar Cabral International Airport is a crucial hub for the country's national airline, Cabo Verde Airlines, and it also serves as a base for the carrier Cabo Verde Express. The airport has been subject to closures in the past, with ongoing runway closures reported in 2025.

It was one of NASA's designated emergency landing strips for the Space Shuttle

Amílcar Cabral International Airport, also known as Sal International Airport, is the main international airport of Cape Verde. It is located 2 kilometres west-southwest of Espargos on Sal Island. The airport is named after the revolutionary leader Amílcar Cabral.

The airport's main runway is 3,272 metres long, making it the longest in Cape Verde. Due to its length, it was designated as one of NASA's emergency landing strips for the Space Shuttle. In the event of an abort during launch, NASA had several international locations as designated emergency landing sites, known as Transoceanic Abort Landing (TAL) sites. These sites included Lajes Air Base in Terceira Island, Azores, Portugal, and Zaragoza Air Base in Spain. All TAL sites had runways of sufficient length to support the landing of a Space Shuttle, and they included personnel from NASA as well as equipment to aid a Space Shuttle landing.

In addition to TAL sites, NASA also had designated sites for an East Coast Abort Landing (ECAL) situation. These sites included runways on the East Coast of the United States and Canada. For example, RAF Fairford in the UK was the only TAL site in the country and had a 3-kilometre-long runway, as well as NASA-trained fire and medical crews stationed on the base.

Although Amílcar Cabral International Airport was designated as an emergency landing site for the Space Shuttle, no Space Shuttle landings occurred there.

It was previously known as Sal International Airport

Cape Verde's main international airport, Amílcar Cabral International Airport, was previously known as Sal International Airport. The airport is located 2 kilometres (1.2 miles) west-southwest of Espargos on Sal Island. Sal Island's first airport was constructed in 1939 by Italy, serving as a refuelling and provisions stop on flights from Europe to South America. The airport's inaugural flight arrived from Rome and Seville on 15 December 1939. However, due to World War II, Italian involvement in the airport project ceased. Subsequently, the Portuguese colonial government purchased the airport from Italy, and by 1949, it was fully operational.

Between 1960 and 1967, Sal International Airport served as a stop for the Voo da Amizade (Friendship Flight), a dedicated service between Brazil and Portugal. During this period, Cape Verde was a Portuguese Overseas Province, and only citizens of Portugal and Brazil or foreigners with permanent residency in these countries could purchase tickets for these flights. These flights were highly popular due to their affordable fares. From 1963 to 1975, the Portuguese Air Force's No 1 Transit Airfield (AT1, Aeródromo de Trânsito n.º 1) was also installed at the airport, supporting military air connections between European Portugal and the Portuguese African provinces.

Sal International Airport was renamed Amílcar Cabral International Airport, after the revolutionary leader Amílcar Cabral. The airport is the main hub for the national airline, Cabo Verde Airlines, and serves as a base for the carrier Cabo Verde Express. The airport's main runway, which is the longest in Cape Verde at 3,272 metres (10,734 feet), is used for long-haul flights and was once designated as an emergency landing strip for the U.S. Space Shuttle. The airport also served as one of NASA's facilities for handling the Space Shuttle after its re-entry from orbit.

In 2023, Vinci Airports finalised a deal to take over the management of seven airports in Cape Verde, including Amílcar Cabral International Airport. Vinci Airports, along with its subsidiary, ANA-Aeroportos de Portugal, will be responsible for funding, operations, maintenance, extension, and modernisation of the airports for 40 years. Amílcar Cabral International Airport has a single terminal building with two storeys, accommodating check-in, waiting, and arrival areas, as well as various passenger services and facilities.

Cape Verde has 7 airports in total

Cape Verde has a total of 7 airports, which have been crucial for the country's economy and development. As an archipelago, Cape Verde relies heavily on air travel to connect its main cities and towns, as well as for international travel. Here is an overview of Cape Verde's airports:

Amílcar Cabral International Airport

Also known as Sal International Airport, it is the main international airport in Cape Verde. Located on Sal Island, it serves as the hub for the national airline, Cabo Verde Airlines. The airport has one terminal with two stories, housing check-in, waiting, arrival areas, and various passenger services. The airport's main runway, spanning 3,272 meters, is the longest in Cape Verde and caters to long-haul flights. Amílcar Cabral International Airport has historical significance, having been used by NASA as a facility for the U.S. Space Shuttle.

Praia International Airport

Praia International Airport, opened to international flights in September 2005, primarily serves the Cape Verdean diaspora. It has become the new destination for TACV flights to Boston, which hosts the largest Cape Verdean community in the United States.

São Pedro Airport

Located on the island of São Vicente, São Pedro Airport became an international airport in late 2009.

Sal Airport

Sal Airport, previously the sole handler of international flights, now mainly serves the tourist industry of Sal Island. It has historical significance, with its roots tracing back to 1939 when Italy built the first airport on the island as a stopping point for flights between Europe and South America.

Other Airports

Cape Verde has three additional domestic airports located on different islands, catering to both international and domestic travel. These airports play a vital role in connecting Cape Verde with the world and facilitating travel within its islands.

In summary, Cape Verde's 7 airports, both international and domestic, are essential for the country's connectivity and have played a crucial role in its economic development.

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