On September 7, the Cape Verdean Government announced the establishment of Linhas Aéreas de Cabo Verde, a new state-owned airline dedicated to inter-island flights. This move aims to address the ongoing operational issues and high costs that have plagued the sector.
According to the Ministry of Tourism and Transport, the airline, created entirely with public funds, was officially launched on Friday. The decision came in response to the instability of the previously sole domestic airline and the unattractiveness of the sector to private operators due to high costs.
The government emphasized that while the domestic market is currently too small to sustain operations without support, the sector remains open to private operators. The new airline is expected to ensure reliable economic activity and essential services across the archipelago and improve tourist access to all islands.
Previously, the concessionaire Bestfly left Cape Verde earlier this year, and Transportes Aéreos de Cabo Verde (TACV), operating as Cabo Verde Airlines (CVA), leased planes to maintain domestic routes. The creation of Linhas Aéreas de Cabo Verde fulfills the government’s promise to stabilize domestic air transport for passengers and cargo.