Luanda airport guide

4 de Fevereiro International Airport

LAD / FNLU · Legacy city airport · Updated April 26, 2026

4 de Fevereiro International Airport is Luanda's historic city airport and one of the capital's best-known landmarks. It is no longer the main airport for current commercial passenger travel, so the most important practical step today is confirming whether your flight uses LAD or the newer NBJ airport.

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Airport code LAD / FNLU
Best known for Its central location inside Luanda and its long role as the city's former main airport
Most important tip Always confirm whether your flight departs from LAD or NBJ before arranging transport
Current situation

Still important, but no longer Luanda's main commercial passenger airport

4 de Fevereiro was for decades Luanda's main gateway. Today, its name still appears in older travel references, old articles and long-standing local habits, but the city now revolves around the newer Dr. Antonio Agostinho Neto International Airport for current mainline commercial travel.

Why confusion happens

Luanda now has two airport references

Many people still say "Luanda airport" without specifying which one they mean. That can cause real transfer mistakes if the airport code is not checked carefully.

Best habit

Do not rely only on the airport name in conversation. Look for the code on the ticket: LAD for 4 de Fevereiro and NBJ for Dr. Antonio Agostinho Neto International Airport.

4 de Fevereiro guide

Open each section for current status, practical information, history, traveller reminders, official references and map access.

What changed

4 de Fevereiro is no longer the default airport assumption for current Luanda commercial passenger travel. The city's airport system has shifted toward Dr. Antonio Agostinho Neto International Airport.

That makes 4 de Fevereiro more important today as a legacy airport reference, a city landmark and a source of traveller confusion if the code is not checked.

What matters most now

  • Check whether the ticket says LAD or NBJ
  • Confirm the airport name in writing with your driver or hotel
  • Do not assume "Luanda airport" automatically means 4 de Fevereiro
  • Older online travel content may still describe it as the main airport
For current travel planning, airport code matters more than habit.
  • Official name: Aeroporto Internacional 4 de Fevereiro
  • IATA code: LAD
  • ICAO code: FNLU
  • Location: Luanda urban area
  • Practical advantage: much closer to central Luanda than the newer airport
  • Main reminder: confirm whether the journey is for LAD or NBJ before departure

A major name in Angola's history

The name 4 de Fevereiro refers to February 4, 1961, the date associated with the start of Angola's armed anti-colonial struggle.

For decades, this airport connected Luanda to Angola and the wider world. Even with passenger traffic shifting to the new airport system, 4 de Fevereiro remains a meaningful urban and historical point of reference in the capital.

  • Always double-check the airport code on your booking.
  • If a hotel, friend or driver says only "Luanda airport", ask whether they mean LAD or NBJ.
  • For transfers, send the airport name and code in writing.
  • Reconfirm your departure airport before heading out, especially if the ticket was changed or reissued.
Older posts, forums and copied travel guides may still describe 4 de Fevereiro as Luanda's main airport, which is one of the easiest ways for travellers to get confused.

Inside Luanda

Unlike the newer airport, 4 de Fevereiro sits inside the urban area of Luanda. That closer position is still the main practical difference travellers should understand when comparing the two airports.

Updated April 26, 2026. Airport operations, airline usage and routing arrangements can continue to evolve, so always confirm the exact airport directly with your airline before travelling.