Source: VINCI Airports

  • A 40-year concession contract that will boost the former Portuguese colony’s economic growth
  • A strategy designed to expand the country’s tourism industry and support its environmental transition
  • The first concession contract signed by VINCI Airports in Africa

Prime Minister Ulisses Correia e Silva of Cape Verde and and Nicolas Notebaert, Chief Executive Officer of VINCI Concessions and President of VINCI Airports signed a concession contract for seven airports in the west African island nation.

The contract covers four international airports (the capital city Praia, Sal, São Vicente and Boa Vista) and three domestic airports (São Nicolau, São Filipe and Maio) of Cape Verde.

Over a 40-year period, VINCI Airports and its Portuguese subsidiary ANA (owning, respectively, 70% and 30% stakes in the concession company) will be responsible for financing, operating, maintaining, extending and upgrading the airports.

The financial arrangements for the project are expected to be finalised by mid-2023, when the new concession company will begin operating the airports.

As a result of the country’s strong economic growth, stable political environment and thriving tourism sector, air traffic rose by an average of 5.6% each year between 2010 and 2019, with passenger numbers reaching 2.8 million. Despite the Covid-19 pandemic impacting most tourist destinations worldwide, air traffic reached 80% of 2019 levels in the second quarter of 2022.

VINCI Airports aims to support Cape Verde’s tourism strategy through a project tailored to suit each airport (factoring in different passenger segment and island-specific considerations). The archipelago’s cultural identity will be reflected in the architecture and customer experiences at the airports.

Furthermore, VINCI Airports will implement its environmental action plan, which involves developing solar and wind power.

This opportunity in Cape Verde will enable VINCI Airports to build on ANA’s 10 years of experience as a concession holder serving 10 Portuguese airports.

According to Nicolas Notebaert, CEO of VINCI Concessions and President of VINCI Airports, “We are very proud to announce this partnership with the Republic of Cape Verde. Our shared vision is to boost the country’s tourism industry through a long-term growth strategy. Improving the airports’ links and performance will have a positive impact on the country. VINCI Airports is deeply committed to helping the Cape Verde archipelago realise its full potential over the course of this long-term partnership.”