Flights to Cape Verde

Flights to Cape Verde

Why not fly to the island nation of Cape Verde. It can be a super placed to fly to for a vacation. You may want to fly to the nation because you want to enjoy the beaches or the towns and culture for your vacation or holiday. You may want to work or retire in the nation.

Main International Airports:

Amílcar Cabral International Airport, Sal Island
Praia International Airport, Santiago Island

Amílcar Cabral International Airport, also known as Sal International Airport or Amílcar Cabral Airport, is the principal international airport of Cape Verde. The airport is named for revolutionary leader Amílcar Cabral.

It is located 2 km west southwest from Espargos on Sal Island. Until September 2005, it was the only airport in Cape Verde to serve international flights. (Cape Verde's other commercial airport is near Praia on Santiago Island.). The first airport on Sal Island was built in 1939 by Italy, as a fuel and provisions stopping point on routes from Rome to South America. The first flight, an arrival from Rome and Seville, was on December 15, 1939. In 1947, the Portuguese colonial government purchased the airport from Italian interests. In 1950, DC-4 service on Alitalia began on a Rome-Sal-Buenos Aires-Caracas route. In 1961 jet service (a DC-8) on the route rendered the stop at Sal unnecessary, and international service was suspended. The airport is located on the east side connecting with the road linking Espargos and Santa Maria, the island's main tourist destination. There is presently no scheduled public transport, but taxis, shared cars known as alugers, and rental cars are available.

Praia International Airport is an airport located on Santiago Island in Cape Verde. It was opened in late 2005, replacing the old Francisco Mendes International Airport. It is located about 3 km northeast of central Praia in the southeastern part of the island of Santiago.

The first flight to the new airport was on October 23, 2005. Cape Verde’s main international airport will remain Amílcar Cabral International Airport on the island of Sal.

The Rabil Airport is an airport in Cape Verde located in the island of Boa Vista, about 5 km southeast of the island capital Sal Rei. Its IATA code means Boa Vista, Cape Verde, and the last two letters of the ICAO code is Boa Vista. The airport was inaugurated in the late 20th century. It was later paved.

Airports in Cape Verde
Amílcar Cabral International Airport, Francisco Mendes International Airport, Maio Airport, Praia International Airport, Preguiça Airport, Rabil Airport, Santo Antão Airport, São Filipe Airport, São Pedro Airp

The majority of Cape Verdean roads are paved with cobblestones cut from local basalt. Recent international aid has allowed the asphalting of a few roads, such as part of the highway between Tarrafal and Praia on Santiago and the dual carriageway between Santa Maria and Espargos on Sal. A new ring road is under construction from Praia International Airport around the city of Praia.

The primary method of intercity and inter-village transport for Cape Verdeans is by aluguer shared taxis, commonly called Iass. Few Cape Verdeans own cars, but ownership is rising rapidly with increasing prosperity, particularly on Santiago Island.

Ports and harbors: Mindelo on São Vicente is the main port for cruise liners and the terminus for the ferry service to Santa Antao. A marina for yachts is undergoing enlargement (2007). Praia on Santiago is a main hub for local ferry services to other islands. Palmeira on Sal supplies fuel for the main airport on the island, Amílcar Cabral International Airport, and is important for the hotel construction taking place on the island. Porto Novo on Santo Antão is the only source for imports and exports of produce from the island as well as passenger traffic since the closure of the airstrip at Ponta do Sol. There are smaller harbors, essentially single jetties at Porto Inglês (Vila do Maio) on Maio, São Filipe on Fogo, Preguiça on São Nicolau and Porto Nhô Martinho on Brava. These act as terminals for the inter island ferry services which carry both freight and passengers. There are very small harbors, with protective breakwaters, essentially used by fishing boats at Tarrafal on Santiago, Pedra de Lume on Sal and Ponta do Sol on Santo Antão.