Africa-Press – Cape verde. Bestfly Cabo Verde by TICV received, on Saturday night, at Praia airport, its newest aircraft, an Embraer 190, to reinforce mobility between the islands and establish connectivity with the African coast and Europe. By the end of the year, it expects one more Embraer and two small aircraft.
The Embraer 190, which landed at Nelson Mandela International Airport shortly before 8 pm, represents an “important moment for the life of civil aviation in Cape Verde”, as noted by the CEO of the Bestfly group, Nuno Pereira.
“The significance of the certification of a new aircraft in Cape Verde and the arrival of a new type of aircraft to Cape Verde transcends the importance of Bestfly. It is a sign for the industry that Cape Verde is open for business, and that, with the right investments, it may be possible to make positive aviation, with positive results”, he declared to the press, just before landing.
Operation perhaps in July
Still without giving a date for the start of operations, Nuno Pereira says that the company is working with the authorities, namely the Civil Aviation Agency, so that it is as soon as possible.
“The arrival of the plane is the first step towards certification. There is still a lot of work to do with the AAC, with a view to the international certification of Bestfly by TICV and the part of commercial flights”, he explained.
However, he added that the team is convinced that it will be able to complete the process in July.
More mobility and connectivity
Embraer, according to the official, is part of a growth strategy, the objective of which is to offer Cape Verde more connectivity, more air transport options, in a safe, efficient way and with a high standard of quality.
“It is the ideal plane for Cape Verde, because the country needs mobility. With Embraer, our idea is mobility, where Cape Verdeans are. Whether within the coast of Africa, which has no mobility to Europe, or in terms of mobility between Cape Verde/Europe”, declared, in turn, commercial Mário Almeida.
Avoid route reduction
With this plane, explained the official, the company will be able to maintain its routes, both in high and low seasons, reducing seasonal losses.
“The Embraer, during the low season, will carry 90 passengers. During peak season, it can transport 300, making three flights, to the same destination,” he explained.
Reinforced fleet until the end of the year
In addition to this new acquisition, the company announced another Embraer by the end of the year, as well as two 19-seat twin otter aircraft, as announced by the executive director, Alcinda Pereira.
The latter two, as he explained, will have the mission of “complementing the existing need for medical evacuations, to help punctual people, on punctual islands”.
“It has a very low operating cost, which will allow us, even when the season is low, to maintain the operation in a sustainable way”, he maintained.
200 thousand passengers transported
The new aircraft arrives in Cape Verde when the company also celebrates its first year of operation in the country.
According to data advanced this Saturday, the operator carried out, in the first six months of operation, around 1,200 hours of flights, with one plane, and only two delays.
In one year, according to Nuno Pereira, more than 200 thousand passengers were transported, with a performance time of over 87%.
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