Airport Codes
Total 1 airports of SID
Amilcar Cabral International Airport (IATA: SID, ICAO:GVAC) is located in the the city of Sal Island, Cape verde. Phone Number :+2382411468
Amilcar Cabral International Airport(SID)
Amilcar Cabral International Airport is Cape Verde’s principal international gateway on Sal Island, serving the island’s tourism economy and international passenger network while also supporting air cargo movements. The airport is located approximately 2 km west-southwest of Espargos. Its long main runway supports long-haul operations, which is operationally relevant for cargo requiring intercontinental or island-to-hub connections. For freight planning, our service team treats this airport as an international island gateway rather than a dedicated cargo hub: available cargo capacity, handling windows, customs procedures and onward connections must be confirmed for each shipment.
| Airport name | Amilcar Cabral International Airport |
|---|---|
| Airport codes | IATA: SID | ICAO: GVAC |
| Country / service area | Cape Verde / Sal Island, near Espargos |
| Terminal profile | One passenger terminal building with check-in, waiting, arrival, retail, banking and passenger-service areas |
| Runway information | Main runway: 3,272 m; the 1,500 m secondary runway is described in the supplied airport data as closed to traffic |
| Airport contact in supplied data | +238 241 1468 |
Key logistics characteristics
Facilities and handling scope
- Airport handling: Cargo acceptance, security screening, build-up or breakdown and aircraft-side transfer are subject to the appointed ground handler, airline acceptance rules and the operating schedule for the shipment.
- General cargo: Standard cartons, consolidated freight and documents can normally be considered after confirmation of dimensions, gross weight, packaging and security status. Our service team requests a handling confirmation before issuing final routing.
- Temperature-sensitive freight: Do not assume permanent cold-room, active-container power or pharmaceutical handling capability. For seafood, perishables, vaccines and other temperature-controlled cargo, we verify acceptance, handover time, packaging method and storage exposure in advance.
- Dangerous goods: Acceptance depends on airline approval, the applicable IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations, packing instruction, labels, shipper’s declaration and local handling capability. Batteries, aerosols, chemicals and fuels require commodity-specific review.
- Customs and controlled storage: Customs release, temporary holding, bonded treatment and inspection arrangements must be confirmed with the appointed customs broker or handling party for the individual shipment; facility names, storage limits and service hours should not be assumed from the passenger-terminal profile.
Routing logic for international freight
- Typical connection model: Our team evaluates direct capacity where available, then compares connections through European, Portuguese or other regional gateways according to the origin, destination, airline acceptance and available uplift.
- Passenger-flight belly capacity: Cargo availability may be constrained by seasonal passenger demand, aircraft type, weight-and-balance limits and late operational changes. A confirmed booking remains subject to airline acceptance and final load control.
- Transit planning: Published flight time is not the same as end-to-end transit time. Export cut-off, screening, transfer connection, customs release, weekend schedules, weather and missed-connection recovery should be included in the quotation and delivery plan.
- Service commitment: We provide a route-specific transit estimate only after checking origin airport, commodity, dimensions, chargeable weight, required delivery point and current airline schedule. No fixed transit promise should be made from the airport code alone.
Hinterland and commodity profile
- Primary catchment: Sal Island, especially the Espargos area and tourism-related facilities, with onward distribution dependent on domestic transport and inter-island logistics arrangements.
- Inbound supply cargo: Hotel and resort supplies, foodservice materials, spare parts, maintenance items, retail goods and urgent replacement components are relevant use cases for air freight.
- Outbound and time-sensitive cargo: Perishable products, seafood or other island-origin goods may require controlled packaging and rapid transfer, subject to airline acceptance, seasonality and destination import rules.
- Special handling profile: Pharmaceuticals, laboratory materials, live animals, valuable goods and oversized pieces require advance feasibility checks; route availability and handling capability must be confirmed before the shipper commits cargo.
Operational controls and compliance
- Cut-off management: Airline cargo acceptance and warehouse cut-off times can vary by flight, commodity, security process and handling agent. Our team obtains the actual acceptance deadline rather than applying a generic airport cut-off.
- Documents: Prepare the air waybill, commercial invoice, packing list, export declaration where applicable, consignee tax or import details and any permits required for the commodity. The description, quantity, value and country of origin must be consistent across documents.
- Security and screening: Cargo may require screening or additional security information before uplift. Dense, irregular or poorly packed pieces can cause examination, repacking or delay.
- Customs and delivery: Import clearance, inspection, duties, local delivery appointments and consignee availability are separate from airport arrival. Our service team coordinates with the destination broker and confirms release conditions before dispatch.
Practical shipping recommendations
- Send the commercial invoice, packing list, dimensions, gross weight, commodity description and intended delivery location to our service team before requesting a firm rate.
- Book island-bound cargo early, especially during tourism peaks or periods when uplift is limited. Ask us to compare direct uplift with a hub connection and to identify a recovery option for missed connections.
- Use export-grade packaging suitable for multiple handling points. Mark each piece clearly and provide total piece count, stackability, dimensions and any orientation or temperature requirements.
- For dangerous goods, lithium batteries, perishables, pharmaceuticals, live animals or valuable cargo, obtain pre-acceptance before cargo delivery. Do not tender restricted cargo based only on a provisional quotation.
Amilcar Cabral International Airport freight FAQ
Can our team arrange general cargo to Amilcar Cabral International Airport?
Yes, our service team can assess general cargo for this destination after reviewing origin, commodity, dimensions, chargeable weight, documents and the available airline routing. Final acceptance depends on the selected carrier and handling agent.
Is this airport suitable for a large or heavy shipment?
The main runway supports long-haul operations, but runway length does not by itself confirm cargo acceptance. Aircraft payload, piece dimensions, loading equipment, route capacity and handling restrictions must be checked for the actual shipment.
Can temperature-controlled goods be shipped through the airport?
They may be possible, but cold-chain storage, active-container support, transfer exposure and final-mile conditions must be confirmed case by case. Our team recommends validated packaging and a contingency plan when the shipment is sensitive to delay.
What commonly causes delays on island air freight?
Typical risks include limited uplift, aircraft or schedule changes, missed hub connections, incomplete customs documents, security screening, weather disruption and consignee unavailability. Early document review and realistic buffer time reduce these risks.
Does airport arrival mean the shipment is ready for collection?
No. Arrival, unloading, customs release, handling charges, inspection and local delivery arrangements are separate steps. Our service team confirms release status and collection instructions with the destination handling and customs parties.
Data basis and verification boundary
Airport identity, codes, supplied location description, terminal profile, runway dimensions, runway-status statement and contact number are based on the airport master data provided for this page. Operational details that can change by flight, season or handling appointment are intentionally expressed as confirmation requirements rather than fixed claims.
For code, airport and carrier-reference verification, our team may cross-check current industry records through iata.org. For airport operator and local operational information, users should verify the current notice, handling and contact details through the official airport operator domain asa.cv.
No unsupported cargo-terminal area, annual throughput, warehouse capacity, airline frequency, guaranteed transit time, temperature-control certification or dangerous-goods facility capability is stated. Final routing and acceptance remain subject to current airline, handler, customs and security confirmation.