CAPE VERDE ISLANDS AND EU SIGN AN OPEN SKY AVIATION AGREEMENT
The agreement that was signed on 23 March in Brussels between the Republic of Cape Verde and the EU is intended to distinctly improve the civilian aviation connection from the EU countries to Cape Verde.
The new agreement now replaces the old restrictions and permits all EU aviation companies to fly between any EU country and Cape Verde. The number of permitted airlines was previously restricted. When the new regulation will take effect is still unknown.
This is the second Open Skies Agreement that Cape Verde has signed. The first was signed in January 2003 between the Cape Verde Islands and the USA. As reciprocation, the Americans donated equipment for the airports on Sal and Santiago to improve safety. This even enabled the airport on Sal to achieve the safety category I.
Additional aviation news: TAP will fly the Lisbon - São Vicente route directly twice a week (Tuesdays and Fridays) starting on 1 July 2011. It now has its own aeroplanes instead of using the previous shared code and TACV aeroplanes. Connecting flights from many German cities and Austria will also be offered. In addition, TAP flies the Lisbon - Santiago and Lisbon – Sal routes several times every week.