Information on internal flights in Cape Verde is as scarce as it is confusing, so let's bring order and maximum clarity to the matter.
The context; a rapidly changing domestic flight pattern.
As you know, Cape Verde is still an emerging tourist destination, and therefore constantly evolving: so are the inter-island flights. When we started our Oi Cape Verde adventure back in 2017, the company operating internal flights in Cape Verde was the Canary airline Binter Cabo Verde. It operated very well until the arrival of the pandemic in 2020, at which point international tourism, and consequently that of Cape Verde came to a complete standstill.
As the country was reactivated, several companies bid for the public tender to operate internal flights in Cape Verde. The Angolan airline, Bestfly, was in charge of operating the flights. The service was generally very good, but for rather political reasons, the airline terminated its contract in the first quarter of 2024.
The last quarter of 2023 was chaotic, as due to bureaucratic problems, the company operated all flights with only one aircraft, a scenario very vulnerable to cancellations and delays. The paradox was that during weeks of cancellations and long delays, a new and ready-to-operate Bestfly aircraft was parked at Praia airport.
Are the aircraft used for inter-island flights in Cape Verde safe?
The answer is very simple; yes. The model used for these flights is the ATR 72-600; a 72-seat, propeller-driven, engine-powered aircraft used internationally. It meets all the requirements, including certifications to fly in European airspace. Companies such as Iberia, Binter or British Airways, among others, use it on a daily basis. These aircrafts are generally used to land on runways less than 2km long, where jet aircrafts cannot operate. They are very typical in the airfields of the different islands of the world. So a very pleasant and safe experience.
Map of routes in Cape Verde:
As we can see in the graph below, most flights go through the capital Praia, on the island of Santiago, so there are few routes linking other islands.
In relation to the next section, it is important to take into account the frequency of internal flights in Cape Verde, since depending on the route and the time of the year they change a lot.
There are daily connections such as those from Praia to Sao Vicente and Fogo but the other routes can operate every day except one rotating day, other frequencies such as one, two or three flights per week up to routes with a monthly frequency.
It is for this reason that until the publication of the flights we do not know exactly the definitive schedules (which in turn may change). Flights are usually published 1 to 3 months in advance.
Baggage; what can we carry on internal flights?
If you travel with Oi Cabo Verde, all the luggage you can carry on the international flight can also be carried on domestic flights. It is important to note that the classic cabin luggage must be checked in; you can only enter the cabin with a backpack or small bag.
Reservations: a really simple process.
Although flights can be managed from the operator’s website, we recommend always booking with a specialized agency. In this way the itinerary will be just as personalized, much more efficient and with a unique support in case of possible changes. 30 days before departure we will send you all the vouchers, including your flight tickets. With them, just go to the airport counter and they will check you in without any problem; you don’t have to do anything else.
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How are the security controls for inter-island flights in Cape Verde?
Surely we can think that for flights of 15 or 30 minutes and in Africa, the controls can be more relaxed… Nothing further from reality; the controls are exhaustive and therefore we recommend to go to the airport 2 hours in advance. On one of our flights we had to unpack our entire suitcase because a sunscreen exceeded 10ml of the regulations, so it is important to check everything that we can not enter in the cabin.
Cabin of the model used for internal flights in Cape Verde
Delays and cancellations, a situation that requires patience and peace of mind.
There are several factors to take into account in this regard. The first is that Cape Verde does not have any rescue helicopters to deal with emergency situations. For this reason, the same airplanes that operate internal flights serve as medical evacuation transports. This situation can alter schedules and cause flight delays. Another factor is adverse weather conditions such as calima; those African dust clouds that prevent normal flights. It must be said that the vast majority of domestic flights operate normally, but if either of these two situations occur, we will have to be patient and make the best of the delay. In no case does the company offer refunds or compensation for delays of this type.
In the case of cancellations, if they occur, the company must provide a later flight and provide accommodation if an overnight stay is required. Beyond this, the company will not offer compensation, since the current legislation is not like the European one.
There was a period during 2023 when only one aircraft was operating throughout the islands, as the other had a long term breakdown. During all this time flights were chaotic and delays and cancellations were the order of the day. Today this has been solved with the entry of Cabo Verde Airlines.
When there is a cancellation, delay or change of schedule, there is nothing we can do but be patient, as there is little else we can do. However, if your trip is in the hands of a specialized agency like Oi Cabo Verde and one of these situations occurs, we react quickly and reorganize the itinerary immediately. This way you can continue to enjoy your trip to the fullest with as few setbacks as possible. We are in permanent contact with the airline company and we have information before anyone else about possible schedule changes and disruptions.
Very often we are contacted by independent travelers “stuck” in one of the Cape Verde islands asking for help. In these cases there is nothing we can do, as we have not designed the itinerary and have no control over it.
Internal flights, always the best option
Although situations like the ones mentioned above may occur from time to time, internal flights in Cape Verde will always be the best option as opposed to ferries. These do suffer delays, cancellations and unannounced schedule changes frequently. In addition, the sea in Cape Verde is always rough. Therefore, we only recommend transfers where air travel is not possible, such as the routes Sao Vicente < > Santo Antao and Fogo < > Brava; with journeys of only about 45-50 minutes.
And this is all for the moment about inter-island flights. We invite you to watch this and other videos on our Youtube channel and Instagram: @oicaboverde. Don’t miss any detail with this video about internal flights in Cape Verde.
