EasyJet Passengers Stranded in Cape Verde After Flight Chaos
Dozens of holidaymakers remain stranded on the island of Boa Vista, Cape Verde, three days after low-cost carrier EasyJet canceled their flight to Porto, Portugal. Approximately 40 passengers are still awaiting official confirmation of their return home as they face mounting professional consequences and medical shortages.
Missing Information and Missed Deadlines
“Right here at the Riu Karamboa hotel, there are more than 40 of us. There will be more in other hotels,” Jerónimo Velasco, 61, told Lusa. Velasco, a lawyer traveling with his wife and two children, expressed frustration over the lack of direct communication. While travel agencies suggested a return flight might be scheduled for September 1, Velasco says he has yet to receive an official document from the airline.
The delay is having a real-world impact on the travelers. Velasco missed a scheduled court hearing on Wednesday, and his family is due back for work on August 31. More urgently, he has run out of daily blood pressure medication, which he says is unavailable in local Cape Verdean pharmacies.
The Cause of the Chaos
Flight EJU6872 was scheduled to depart on Tuesday, August 25. EasyJet attributed the cancellation to a “knock-on” effect from the previous day. The airline explained that the aircraft intended for the route was grounded in Basel, Switzerland, due to severe weather conditions and air traffic control restrictions in Central Europe.
While some of the original 130 passengers managed to secure expensive alternative routes through London or other hubs, many remain in limbo. The tour operator ‘NewBlue’ stepped in on Thursday to cover accommodation costs until Tuesday, but passengers say the airline itself has been largely silent regarding travel alternatives.
EasyJet’s Response
In a statement to Lusa, EasyJet maintained that passengers were offered free transfers to the next available flights or full refunds. The airline also pledged to reimburse “reasonable expenses” for those who booked their own alternative travel.
However, the carrier admitted it could not provide an exact number of passengers still stranded on the island. “It will always be difficult to estimate since any passenger can opt for other airlines or alternatives to leave,” a company spokesperson said, adding that they continue to “monitor the situation closely.”
EasyJet only recently expanded its footprint in Cape Verde, launching flights to Boa Vista, Praia, and São Vicente in October 2025. The incident comes at a time of rapid growth for Cape Verdean tourism, which saw a 6% increase in visitors last year, reaching a total of 1.2 million guests.
Image: Pexels – Drinu Cutajar
