Cape Verde Travel Surge: Aircraft Movements Up 14.5% in Q2
Cape Verde’s travel and logistics sectors experienced a significant surge in the second quarter of 2026, with aircraft movements jumping 14.5% compared to the same period last year. According to the National Institute of Statistics (INE), the archipelago also saw a steady 4.6% rise in passenger traffic, signaling robust demand for the island nation’s air corridors.
Air Travel and Cargo on the Rise
Data released in the INE’s Transport Statistics report, sourced from the Civil Aviation Agency (AAC), reveals that 799,709 passengers traveled through Cape Verde’s airports and airfields between April and June. This represents an increase of 35,516 travelers over the second quarter of 2025.
Operational activity saw an even sharper spike. Airports recorded 9,572 aircraft movements, up from 8,358 in the previous year. The logistics sector reported the most dramatic growth, however, with freight handling skyrocketing by 59.9% to reach 449,118 kilograms. Mail traffic also trended upward, growing 15.4% to a total of 126,597 kilograms.
Maritime Sector Shows Strong Momentum
The growth wasn’t limited to the skies. Cape Verde’s ports also reported a flurry of activity, with passenger movements by sea surging 17.2% to a total of 384,715 people. Ship traffic across the archipelago’s ports rose by 5.1% year-on-year.
Freight and Trade Statistics
Maritime cargo handling saw double-digit growth, rising 10.9% to 879,586 tons—an increase of nearly 87,000 tons compared to the same quarter last year. The report highlights that the majority of this activity—approximately 67.4%—was driven by offloading operations, underscoring the islands’ reliance on maritime trade for essential supplies and goods.
Image: Pexels – Yahye Somali
