Cabo Verde

Lore & Background

Cabo Verde Airlines was established in 1958. In July 1975, following the independence of Cape Verde, the airline was designated as the national carrier. It became a state-owned company in 1983. The airline was named TACV, and its logo included a blue wing with seven lines that represented the number of domestic inter-island flights offered by the airline. Until 1984, it served 8 of the 9 inhabited islands. European flights began in 1985, with Lisbon as the first European destination. Also that year, the airline began services to Boston, Massachusetts using a McDonnell Douglas DC-10 provided by LAM Mozambique Airlines. In 1996, Cabo Verde Airlines received its first Boeing 757-200, brand new from the Boeing factory, baptized with the name B.Leza. In August 2017, the Cape Verdean government signed an agreement with Loftleidir Icelandic, part of the Icelandair Group, which turned the administration of Cabo Verde Airlines to the Icelandic group. The new administration discontinued the hub at Praia International Airport and moved the airline's hub to Amílcar Cabral International Airport. In May 2018, the airline announced it would rebrand as Cabo Verde Airlines. On March 1, 2019, Loftleidir paid 1.3 million euros (or 51% of shares) for the heavily indebted Cabo Verde Airlines, which resulted in it becoming the majority owner. In July 2023, Cabo Verde Airlines added its first Boeing 737 MAX 8 to its fleet.

Reader's Guide

As of May 2026, Cabo Verde Airlines serves the following scheduled destinations: Brazil: Recife - Recife International Airport; Cabo Verde: Boa Vista - Rabil Airport, Maio - Maio Airport, Praia - Nelson Mandela International Airport, Sal - Amílcar Cabral International Airport (Hub), São Nicolau - Preguiça Airport, São Vicente - São Pedro Airport; France: Paris - Charles de Gaulle Airport; Italy: Bergamo - Orio al Serio International Airport; Portugal: Lisbon - Lisbon Airport, Porto - Porto Airport; United States: Providence - Rhode Island T.F. Green International Airport. Codeshare agreements: Africa World Airlines, Azores Airlines, TAAG Angola Airlines. Interline agreements: Africa World Airlines, APG Airlines.

Did You Know?

• Cabo Verde Airlines was the country's only airline until 1998 when Cabo Verde Express began operations.
• The airline's first Boeing 757-200, named B.Leza (registration D4-CBG), was considered 'the pride and joy of Cape Verde Airlines'.
• TACV Flight 5002 crashed into a wooded mountainside on Santo Antão on 7 August 1999, killing all 18 passengers and crew.