# Nouakchott–Oumtounsy International Airport (NKC)

> Nouakchott, MR · IATA: NKC · ICAO: GQNO · Large Airport · Cargo Hub

## Quick Facts

| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| IATA | `NKC` |
| ICAO | `GQNO` |
| City | Nouakchott |
| Country | MR |
| Type | Large Airport |
| Elevation | 3 m |
| Cargo | ✅ |
| GPS | 18.31000, -15.96972 |

## Description

Around 12,000 tonnes of cargo move through Nouakchott–Oumtounsy International Airport (NKC) each year, much of it tied to Mauritania's fishing economy. Opened in 2016 some 25 km north of the capital, the airport replaced the older in-city facility and now anchors the country's international air links. Scheduled carriers include Mauritania Airlines, Royal Air Maroc, Air France, Turkish Airlines, Air Algérie, Tunisair and Air Sénégal, connecting Nouakchott with Europe, the Maghreb and West Africa. Freight is dominated by time-sensitive exports of chilled and frozen fish products, alongside inbound machinery, fuel and consumer goods. A dedicated cargo terminal handles the throughput, and a 2023 agreement between IATA and Afroport Mauritanie brought global ground-handling standards to the site. Clearance runs through Mauritania's customs administration, while the Nouadhibou Free Zone to the north offers complementary options for foreign-trade flows. Road links tie the airport to the Port of Nouakchott, letting sea and air shipments feed one another. Built by a Chinese consortium, the airport gave Mauritania its first large-scale handling capacity clear of the congested city centre.

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*Freight Academy — Airport Profile: [https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/nouakchottoumtounsy-international-airport-nkc](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/nouakchottoumtounsy-international-airport-nkc)*

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*LLM-Summary (JSON): https://www.freight-academy.com/api/v1/airports/nouakchottoumtounsy-international-airport-nkc/llm-summary*