“With three weekly flights, the new route responds to a long-standing demand from the diaspora and boosts tourism from northern Portugal.”
TAP Air Portugal today (14) officially announced the strengthening of its operations at Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport, announcing the creation of a regular direct connection to the city of Praia. The measure aims to decentralize operations and bring Cape Verde closer to the northern region of Portugal.
From July 1, 2026, traveling between northern Portugal and the island of Santiago will be faster and more convenient. TAP has announced the introduction of a new direct route connecting Porto to Praia, with three flights per week.
The announcement was made as part of a package of investments by the airline in Porto, which also includes new routes to the Azores and the strengthening of intercontinental connections. Luís Rodrigues, CEO of TAP, emphasized that this move proves that "TAP is committed to the North," investing in infrastructure and connectivity that serve both tourist passengers and the ethnic segment.
This new connection is strategic for Cape Verde. Northern Portugal is home to one of the largest Cape Verdean communities in Europe, which until now depended almost exclusively on air travel via Lisbon. Direct flights facilitate travel for the diaspora and open up a direct channel for tourists from the northern region of the Iberian Peninsula who want to visit the archipelago without the inconvenience of stopovers.
The context of connectivity
We recall that the absence of regular direct flights between Porto and Cape Verde invariably required a stopover in Lisbon. This transfer increased the total travel time and often the cost of fares. Historically, only seasonal charter flights (focused on Sal and Boa Vista) made this direct connection, leaving the capital, Praia, dependent on the Portela hub.
Cape Verde 24.info
Source: Tap
