Praia, July 31, 2025 (Lusa) - Cabo Verde will more than double its weekly low-cost flights by the end of the year, with more than 80 connections planned from countries such as Portugal and France, the Minister of Tourism and Transport announced on Thursday.

“We currently have more than 38 low-cost flights per week, connecting the whole world,” said José Luís Sá Nogueira, in the debate on the State of the Nation.

The minister announced that, by the end of the year, Cabo Verde will have “more than 80 low-cost connections per week from Portugal and France, supporting the diaspora”.

The minister said that with this measure, the government is working to improve the air transport sector in Cabo Verde.

Easyjet announced in early July direct flights connecting Lisbon and Porto to the capital of Cabo Verde, Praia, and two other islands, starting in October.

Cabo Verde Airlines (the commercial name of TACV) announced in April that it would resume operations to the French market from 23 July, serving the diaspora and the tourist market.

The company will now operate flights from Praia to Paris on Sundays and return on Thursdays. On Mondays, there will be a connection from Paris to the island of São Vicente and then to the island of Sal, after a one-hour stopover in Mindelo, with the reverse route on Wednesdays.

The Swiss airline Edelweiss Airlines will also start operating new connections to the airports of Praia and São Vicente from the end of October, according to Cabo Verde Airports 15 days ago.

The airline already operates regular flights to the islands of Sal and Boa Vista.

The increase in regular air links with Europe has boosted tourism in Cabo Verde, especially on the islands of Sal and Boa Vista, resulting in a record 1.2 million visitors in 2024.

Tourism and related activities are the driving force behind Cabo Verde’s economic growth, with revenues estimated at over €500 million last year, representing more than 70% of exports.

RS/ADB // ADB.

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