Cabo Verde Airports starts operation with ANA and VINCI Airports

Cabo Verde Airports started yesterday the operation of the Cape Verde airports concession, awarded by the Government of Cape Verde, which includes the airports of Sal, Praia, Boa Vista and São Vicente, as well as the aerodromes of São Filipe, São Nicolau and Maio.

Over the next 40 years, VINCI Airports will take over the management, financing and modernisation of these airports together with ANA - Aeroportos de Portugal, which holds 30% of the concession.

Thierry Ligonnière was present at the official handing over of the airports' certificates and emphasised that: "the success of one will be the success of the other, so we are aligned with the strategic objectives of the country and the Government, namely in terms of growth, qualification and boosting tourism, improving infrastructure, and strengthening national and international connections."

In a country with a rapidly growing tourism sector, which received 2.2 million passengers in 2022, we are committed to a project adapted to each airport, with a strong environmental commitment and a commitment to the development of new routes and the promotion of the extraordinary qualities of the archipelago, without forgetting mobility between the islands.

In terms of sustainability and the environment, two main objectives are set: the progressive reduction of CO2 emissions and alignment with the guidelines of the Airport Carbon Accreditation programme, implementing an environmental action plan that includes the production of renewable energy at airports.

Cabo Verde airports staff, around 300 people, will be integrated into the VINCI Airports network and thus have access to continuous training programmes, the sharing of best operational practices and the promotion of career development, with a focus on gender equality opportunities.

VINCI Airports said it has secured a 60 M€ on a 20-year financing programme from three development banks: World Bank-IFC, Proparco (France) and DEG (Germany), under the Sustainability Linked Financing (SLF) framework.

VINCI Airports thus consolidates its leadership as world's first private operator, with 72 airports in 13 countries.

Nicolas Notebaert, CEO of VINCI Concessions and Chairman of VINCI Airports, said: "We are proud of the trust that Cape Verde's government has shown in us, entrusting VINCI Airports with the responsibility of supporting the country's tourism growth and ensuring the environmental transformation of airports. We welcome our new colleagues to the network and look forward to getting to work."