São Tomé International Airport Guide

São Tomé International Airport is the main gateway to São Tomé and Príncipe, a small island nation in the Gulf of Guinea. The airport sits on the northeastern coast of São Tomé Island, about 5 kilometres from the capital city, at an elevation of 10 metres above sea level. Its single runway measures 2,220 metres and accommodates medium-haul aircraft.

The airport has one passenger terminal handling both international and domestic traffic. TAP Air Portugal serves Lisbon year-round, making Portugal the primary long-haul connection. Regional African carriers including TAAG Angola Airlines, Afrijet, and ASKY Airlines link the island to Luanda, Libreville, and Accra respectively. STP Airways, the national carrier, operates domestic and regional routes.

In 2024, the government awarded a 49-year concession to Turkey-based FB Group to operate and expand the airport, with planned investment exceeding €300 million. Upgrades include runway extension toward the sea and terminal modernisation, targeting capacity of 500,000 passengers per year. The airport played a significant humanitarian role during the 1967–70 Nigerian Civil War, serving as the main base for the Biafran airlift.