Cape Verde Airport Traffic Jumps 17% in Early 2026
Cape Verde’s aviation sector is experiencing a significant surge, with airport passenger traffic climbing 17.1% in the first quarter of 2026 compared to the previous year, according to newly released data from the National Statistics Institute (INE).
Air Travel Reaches New Heights
Between January and March, the archipelago’s airports and airfields handled a total of 1,051,573 passengers. This represents an increase of 153,713 travelers over the same period in 2025. The spike in passenger numbers was supported by a busy flight schedule, with aircraft movements rising from 9,554 to 11,186.
Air logistics also saw impressive growth during the first three months of the year. Cargo handling jumped 28.7%, reaching 350,866 kilograms, while mail transit grew by 18.2% to total 125,319 kilograms.
Mixed Results for Maritime Operations
While the skies dominated the growth headlines, Cape Verde’s ports reported a more nuanced quarter. Passenger movement by sea rose by 4.6%, with 398,498 people traveling through the nation’s ports despite a 3.5% decrease in ship traffic.
However, the maritime sector faced a slight cooling in freight. Movement of goods by sea fell by 1.8%, totaling 725,958 tons—roughly 13,638 tons less than the first quarter of 2025. The INE report highlighted that nearly two-thirds (64.8%) of all maritime goods handled were related to unloading operations.
Key Takeaways from Q1 2026:
- Air Passengers: 1.05 million (Up 17.1%)
- Aircraft Movements: 11,186 departures and arrivals
- Air Cargo: 350,866 kg (Up 28.7%)
- Sea Passengers: 398,498 (Up 4.6%)
- Sea Freight: 725,958 tons (Down 1.8%)
Image: Pexels – Jasinto Shabani
