Cabo Verde Airlines Welcomes First 737 MAX

Cabo Verde Airlines has welcomed the start of its next era by taking delivery of its first Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, specifically the 737-8.

The aircraft is part of the “takeoff” branding ironically outlined by the company as they look to reconnect the Cape Verdean Diaspora to Europe, Africa, North America and South America.

The island nation believes the 737-8 is the perfect aircraft for those plans and the larger restart strategy outlined.

Cabo Verde Airlines already connects four continents thanks to nonstop flights from its two primary hubs in Sai and Praia.

The carrier currently only has two aircraft in service. The 737-8 joins an existing 737-700 and only increases capacity. The 737-8 also offers the ability to restore routes it once flew before the pandemic but hasn’t had the equipment to do so.

Per Cirium fleet data for June 2023, the airline offered 36 flights, an increase of 80%, which amounted to 4.32k seats and 12.6m ASK (ASM). This was spread across three routes in two different countries. Its most popular connection was Lisbon Portela Airport to Nelson Mandela International Airport.