TACV

ICAO: TCV IATA: VR Active as of Feb 10, 2026

Airline Statistics

33

Active Routes

1381

Flight Observations

13

Unique Destinations

10

Origin Airports

941

Avg Route Distance (mi)

2779

Longest Route (mi)

0

Domestic Routes

33

International Routes

About TACV

TACV Airlines, officially known as Cabo Verde Airlines (ICAO: TCV), is the national flag carrier of Cape Verde, an archipelago nation in the Atlantic Ocean.

Cabo Verde Airlines was established in 1958, initially operating as TACV (Transportes Aéreos de Cabo Verde). Following Cape Verde's independence in July 1975, the airline was designated as the national carrier, becoming a state-owned company in 1983. In May 2018, the airline rebranded to Cabo Verde Airlines to better reflect its national identity. While Loftleidir Icelandic, part of the Icelandair Group, acquired a majority stake in 2019, more recent information indicates that Cabo Verde Airlines is 90% owned by the State of Cape Verde.

The airline's main hub and operational base is Amílcar Cabral International Airport (SID) on Sal Island. This strategic location aims to connect three continents: Europe, North America, and South America, as well as West Africa. Cabo Verde Airlines operates a route network focusing on international services, though it previously offered extensive domestic inter-island flights. The airline has been pivoting towards enhancing its international presence and connectivity, particularly to the United States, Europe, and West Africa.

The current fleet of Cabo Verde Airlines primarily consists of Boeing 737 MAX 8 and Boeing 737-700 aircraft. Historically, the airline also operated Boeing 757-200 and ATR aircraft. Cabo Verde Airlines is not a member of any major global airline alliance such as Star Alliance, SkyTeam, or Oneworld. For passenger services, the airline offers different fare options including "Light," "Plus," and "Flex," allowing for standard or preferred seat selection. Its "Morabeza Light and Flex" fares offer "Premium Seats" with larger seats and increased legroom at the front of the aircraft. Some aircraft historically featured a small business class cabin or "Morabeza Comfort Class." In-flight services typically include meals and refreshments.

Traveler Reviews

Recent traveler reviews for Cabo Verde Airlines present a mixed picture, highlighting both positive aspects and notable frustrations.

What Travelers Love:

  • Friendly and professional crew: Many travelers appreciate the courteous and professional demeanor of the cabin and ground staff.
  • Newer aircraft experience: Flights operated by the Boeing 737 MAX 8 are often described as new, clean, and offering good legroom in the front rows.
  • Decent in-flight service: Passengers have noted satisfactory in-flight service, including refreshments and meals like a decent lunch with warm bread on longer flights.
  • Affordable direct flights: For those seeking economical and direct flights to Cape Verde, the airline is often seen as providing good value for money.

Common Complaints:

  • Frequent delays and cancellations: A significant and recurring complaint is the airline's tendency for flights to be delayed or rescheduled at short notice, which can severely disrupt travel plans.
  • Poor customer service: Travelers frequently report difficulties with customer service, including unresponsiveness, challenges in obtaining refunds for cancelled flights, and a perception of dishonest business practices.
  • High checked bag fees: Some passengers find the checked baggage fees to be excessively high.
  • Lack of in-flight entertainment/WiFi: Many reviews mention the absence of in-flight entertainment systems or Wi-Fi, particularly on older aircraft or economy class.
  • Variable cabin quality: While newer planes are appreciated, older aircraft have been noted to have worn seat cushions and tray tables, and bathrooms may sometimes lack cleanliness.
  • Subpar business class offerings: Business class on some aircraft has been described as not significantly better than economy, often lacking features like flatbeds or comprehensive entertainment.

Overall sentiment suggests that while Cabo Verde Airlines offers essential direct connections and a friendly crew, passengers should be prepared for potential operational inconsistencies such as delays and be aware of the airline's customer service challenges, particularly concerning changes to bookings or refunds. The cost-benefit ratio is often a key factor for travelers choosing the airline.

Safety Information

Cabo Verde Airlines maintains a generally positive safety standing within the aviation industry, particularly concerning regulatory certifications.

The airline's most notable incident was TACV Flight 5002 on August 7, 1999, when a Dornier DO228-201, leased by TACV, crashed into a mountainside in Santo Antão in poor weather conditions, resulting in the fatalities of all 18 passengers and crew onboard. More recently, between 2014, there were reported incidents involving a Boeing 757-200 with an engine oil problem and hydraulic failure, and an ATR 72-212A with an engine fire and a bird strike, none of which resulted in fatalities.

Cabo Verde Airlines is a member of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and has been IOSA (IATA Operational Safety Audit) certified since 2009. This certification, which the airline renewed in 2018 for the period leading up to 2019, signifies adherence to internationally recognized operational safety standards. Cabo Verde Airlines is also stated to hold international aviation certificates signed by the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) and EASA (European Aviation Safety Agency). Importantly, Cabo Verde Airlines is not included on the EU Air Safety List (commonly known as the EU blacklist), which means it is permitted to operate flights to and from the European Union, indicating compliance with European safety standards.

While specific data on the average fleet age is not consistently provided, the airline added a new Boeing 737 MAX 8 to its fleet in July 2023, suggesting ongoing fleet modernization. The IOSA certification generally reflects a solid maintenance reputation, as it evaluates an airline's operational management and control systems, including maintenance procedures.

Based on available data, Cabo Verde Airlines has an overall safety rating of 7/7 according to Airline Ratings, indicating a strong safety assessment. There is no specific mention of safety awards or recognitions beyond its continuous IOSA certification.

Compiled by AirportRoutes.com • Updated 2 months, 1 week ago

Route Network Map

Click on any airport to see its routes

Most Popular Routes

234 flights
UNKNOWN
193 flights
ATR
RAI → SID
129 miles
188 flights
ATR
126 flights
ATR
91 flights
ATR
BVC → RAI
Rabil Airport → Praia Int'l
92 miles
66 flights
ATR
RAI → LIS
Nelson Mandela International Airport → General Humberto Delgado Airport
1866 miles
58 flights
737
VXE → RAI
São Pedro Airport → Praia Int'l
168 miles
52 flights
UNKNOWN

Top Destinations

VXE (GVSV)
Sao Pedro
Sao Vicente
362 flights
4 routes
SID (GVAC)
Amilcar Cabral Int'l
Sal
263 flights
5 routes
RAI (GVNP)
Praia Int'l
Santiago
258 flights
7 routes
SFL (GVSF)
Sao Filipe
Fogo
196 flights
2 routes
BVC (GVBA)
Rabil
Boa Vista
117 flights
2 routes
LIS (LPPT)
General Humberto Delgado Airport
Lisbon
71 flights
3 routes
SNE (GVSN)
Preguica
Sao Nicolau
45 flights
3 routes
MMO (GVMA)
Maio
Maio
44 flights
1 route
OPO (LPPR)
Porto / Oporto
Francisco Sa Carneiro Int.
9 flights
1 route
BGY (LIME)
Orio al Serio Int'l
Bergamo
7 flights
1 route

Top Origin Airports

RAI (GVNP)
Nelson Mandela International Airport
Praia
818 flights
9 routes
SID (GVAC)
Amílcar Cabral International Airport
Espargos
306 flights
9 routes
VXE (GVSV)
São Pedro Airport
São Pedro
106 flights
5 routes
BVC (GVBA)
Rabil Airport
Rabil
96 flights
2 routes
SFL (GVSF)
São Filipe Airport
São Filipe
39 flights
2 routes
MMO (GVMA)
Maio Airport
Vila do Maio
7 flights
1 route
LIS (LPPT)
Lisbon Humberto Delgado Airport
Lisbon
4 flights
2 routes
BGY (LIME)
Milan Bergamo Airport / Antonio Locatelli Air Base
Orio al Serio (BG)
3 flights
1 route
OPO (LPPR)
Francisco de Sá Carneiro Airport
Porto
1 flights
1 route
SNE (GVSN)
Preguiça Airport
Preguiça
1 flights
1 route

Top Border Crossing Flights

VXE (GVSV)
São Pedro Airport
Sao Vicente, CV
362 flights
4 routes
SID (GVAC)
Amílcar Cabral International Airport
Sal, CV
263 flights
5 routes
RAI (GVNP)
Nelson Mandela International Airport
Santiago, CV
258 flights
7 routes
LIS (LPPT)
Lisbon Humberto Delgado Airport
Lisbon, PT
71 flights
3 routes
OPO (LPPR)
Francisco de Sá Carneiro Airport
Francisco Sa Carneiro Int., PT
9 flights
1 route
BGY (LIME)
Milan Bergamo Airport / Antonio Locatelli Air Base
Bergamo, IT
7 flights
1 route

Longest Routes

RAI → CDG
Nelson Mandela International Airport → Charles de Gaulle/Roissy
2779 mi
BGY → SID
Milan Bergamo Airport / Antonio Locatelli Air Base → Amilcar Cabral Int'l
2746 mi
SID → BGY
Amílcar Cabral International Airport → Orio al Serio Int'l
2746 mi
VXE → CDG
São Pedro Airport → Charles de Gaulle/Roissy
2712 mi
RAI → NCE
Nelson Mandela International Airport → Nice Cote d'Azur
2686 mi

Shortest Routes

RAI → MMO
Nelson Mandela International Airport → Maio
23 mi
MMO → RAI
Maio Airport → Praia Int'l
23 mi
SID → BVC
Amílcar Cabral International Airport → Rabil
42 mi
BVC → SID
Rabil Airport → Amilcar Cabral Int'l
42 mi
VXE → SNE
São Pedro Airport → Preguica
54 mi

All Routes

33 Total Routes
Showing 25 most popular routes
Route Destination Flights Distance Aircraft Last Seen
RAI → VXE Sao Pedro
Sao Vicente
234 168 mi UNKNOWN Feb 10, 2026
RAI → SFL Sao Filipe
Fogo
193 67 mi ATR Feb 10, 2026
RAI → SID Amilcar Cabral Int'l
Sal
188 129 mi ATR Feb 10, 2026
SID → VXE Sao Pedro
Sao Vicente
126 140 mi ATR Jan 21, 2026
SID → RAI Praia Int'l
Santiago
91 129 mi ATR Jan 21, 2026
RAI → BVC Rabil
Boa Vista
83 92 mi ATR Feb 10, 2026
BVC → RAI Praia Int'l
Santiago
66 92 mi ATR Feb 9, 2026
RAI → LIS General Humberto Delgado Airport
Lisbon
58 1866 mi 737 Feb 10, 2026
VXE → RAI Praia Int'l
Santiago
52 168 mi UNKNOWN Feb 10, 2026
RAI → MMO Maio
Maio
44 23 mi ATR Feb 8, 2026
VXE → SID Amilcar Cabral Int'l
Sal
41 140 mi ATR Feb 10, 2026
SFL → RAI Praia Int'l
Santiago
38 67 mi ATR Feb 5, 2026
SID → BVC Rabil
Boa Vista
34 42 mi ATR Oct 11, 2025
BVC → SID Amilcar Cabral Int'l
Sal
30 42 mi ATR Feb 1, 2026
SID → SNE Preguica
Sao Nicolau
25 89 mi ATR Jan 21, 2026
RAI → SNE Preguica
Sao Nicolau
15 126 mi ATR Feb 9, 2026
SID → LIS General Humberto Delgado Airport
Lisbon
9 2000 mi A20N Dec 11, 2025
SID → OPO Porto / Oporto
Francisco Sa Carneiro Int.
9 1896 mi B38M Sep 25, 2025
SID → BGY Orio al Serio Int'l
Bergamo
7 2746 mi B38M Oct 4, 2025
MMO → RAI Praia Int'l
Santiago
7 23 mi ATR Feb 8, 2026
VXE → SNE Preguica
Sao Nicolau
5 54 mi ATR Feb 10, 2026
VXE → LIS General Humberto Delgado Airport
Lisbon
4 1797 mi B38M Jan 15, 2026
VXE → CDG Charles de Gaulle/Roissy
Paris
4 2712 mi B38M Feb 8, 2026
LIS → RAI Praia Int'l
Santiago
3 1866 mi B38M Nov 5, 2025
SID → SFL Sao Filipe
Fogo
3 164 mi ATR Sep 29, 2025
Data Information:

Airline statistics are based on flight route observations collected from FlightAware AeroAPI and other sources. Flight counts represent observed operations, not scheduled frequencies. Route data is continuously updated as new flight information becomes available.

Data Freshness: Real-time
Last Update: Feb 10, 2026 18:05
Coverage: Observed routes only