# 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

Opened in 2016 to replace the old city airfield, Nouakchott–Oumtounsy International Airport (NKC/GQNO) concentrates essentially all of Mauritania's international air traffic and pairs its roughly 30,000 m² passenger terminal with a dedicated cargo terminal. It lies about 25 km north of Nouakchott, keeping drive times to the capital and to the Port de l'Amitié seaport under an hour. Air freight here moves predominantly as belly cargo on passenger services; scheduled freighter operations are not confirmed. Carriers serving NKC include Mauritania Airlines International, Royal Air Maroc, Turkish Airlines, Air Algérie, Tunisair, Air Sénégal, ASKY and Air France, so shipments to Europe and Asia usually connect via Casablanca, Istanbul or Paris. The operator does not publish reliable annual tonnage figures, so capacity planning should rest on written airline confirmations rather than statistics. Fresh fish and seafood are the export commodities that matter most, which makes cold-chain integrity and lead time the critical variables — reefer capacity should be confirmed in writing before booking. Mauritania's heavy bulk traffic, above all iron ore, does not move by air at all but by the mineral railway to the port of Nouadhibou. Realistic alternatives are Nouadhibou (NDB) to the north and, for larger volumes, Dakar Blaise Diagne (DSS) in Senegal, roughly 500 km south.

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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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