According to the Empresa Nacional de Aeroportos e Segurança Aérea (The Cape Verdian Airports Authority - ASA), the Cape Verde Islands have recorded another strong year of passenger arrivals with a growth of 3.7% on 2011's figures thanks largely in part to an increase in European travellers. However, the domestic front did not fare so well with a decline of 5.9%.
According
to the ASA, the
increase in passengers on international flights is mainly due to
operations out of Europe with Thomsonfly, TUI, and TAP Air Portugal leading the field. The ASA expects this trend to continue until the end of 2013 with passenger movement numbers expected to remain above 1million.
Cape Verde Islands Passenger Traffic for 2012
Number (% Change on 2011)
Total Passenger Traffic through Cape Verde for 2012: 1'849'455 (+3.7%)
Total Domestic Passenger Traffic for 2012: 829'533 (-5.9%)
Ilha do Sal (Amilcar Cabral International Airport):
- Total Passengers Handled: 599'641 (+4%)
- International: 401'413 (+10.2%)
- Domestic: 198'228 (-6.5%)
Praia (Nelson Mandela International Airport):
- Total Passengers Handled: 497'049 (-6%)
- International: 220'122 (-)
- Domestic: 276'927 (-)
Boa Vista (Aristides Pereira International Airport):
- On this island, tourist traffic which grew the most, with an increase of 16.6 percent.
- Total Passengers Handled: 425'701 (-6%)
- International: 353'686 (+26%)
- Domestic: 60'015 (-16.7%)
São Vicente (Cesaria Evora International Airport):
- Total Passengers Handled: 210'095 (+6.9%)
- International: 41'701 (+79.5%)
- Domestic: 168'394 (-2.8%)
Total Passengers Handled in Smaller Aerodromes: 74'408
- São Filipe: 26'436 (-0.3%)
- São Nicolau: 16'125 (- 16%)
In 2012, the islands of Cape Verde made known their intention to raise capital for the creation of their own 'Gateway to West Africa' - a strategic aviation hub on the Cape Verde Islands which will cater for 50 million passengers per year and based upon Dubai. It is estimated to cost EUR310million.
