Bestfly Cabo Verde

Bestfly Cabo Verde is a Cape Verdean regional airline whose corporate and commercial identity has changed several times since its creation. The airline was founded in 2015 as Binter Cabo Verde, a subsidiary of Spain’s Binter Canarias, to provide scheduled inter-island air transport within Cape Verde. Operations began on 12 November 2016, initially linking Santiago, Sal and São Vicente. Its principal base was Nelson Mandela International Airport in Praia. The company became particularly important in the domestic aviation market after TACV discontinued its domestic operations on 1 August 2017 during a period of restructuring and privatization. Binter Cabo Verde subsequently took over a significant role in connecting Cape Verde’s islands, a strategically important function in an archipelago where air travel supports mobility between dispersed population centers, tourism, public services and commerce. The airline’s business model covered scheduled passenger flights and, where required, charter and cargo services. In August 2019, the airline changed its name from Binter Cabo Verde, commonly shortened to Binter CV, to Transportes Interilhas de Cabo Verde, or TICV. The change separated the local operating company’s identity from the Binter brand while retaining its inter-island focus. In June 2021, Binter Canarias divested its interest, selling a reported 70 percent stake to Angolan airline group BestFly Worldwide. The remaining 30 percent was held by the Government of Cape Verde. Following the transaction, the airline was rebranded as Bestfly Cabo Verde. The carrier’s network had expanded to cover all seven airports in Cape Verde by July 2022, making it a nationwide domestic operator rather than a carrier focused only on the largest population and tourism centers. Its fleet and operating arrangements included regional aircraft suited to short island sectors. The airline also previously operated Embraer 190 aircraft, although the available reference material does not establish the complete historical fleet or the precise dates of each aircraft’s service. Bestfly Cabo Verde experienced serious operational interruptions from 2023 onward. In mid-2023, it briefly suspended most flights and cited operational difficulties. It announced another suspension covering all operations from 19 April to 7 May 2024. According to the available reference material, services had not resumed after that announced end date, with reports linking the continuing disruption to problems involving ACMI operations, under which aircraft, crew, maintenance and insurance can be supplied by another operator. The available material does not establish whether the airline has formally entered liquidation, permanently ceased trading or remains legally active but non-operational. It is therefore best characterized as an airline with suspended service and uncertain current operating status. The Binter CV name remains historically significant because it identifies the company’s founding period and its association with Binter Canarias. The legal and operating identity described by the canonical reference is now Bestfly Cabo Verde, while TICV is the intermediate name used from 2019. The company’s core proposition has been practical domestic connectivity across Cape Verde rather than a broad international network.

Bestfly Cabo Verde was established in 2015 as Binter Cabo Verde, a local subsidiary of Binter Canarias. Its creation reflected the importance of reliable domestic aviation in Cape Verde, an archipelago in which inter-island travel cannot be supported by road or rail links. The airline began flying on 12 November 2016, initially serving Santiago, Sal and São Vicente. The carrier’s role expanded in 2017 when TACV stopped domestic operations on 1 August as part of restructuring and privatization. Binter Cabo Verde took over inter-island flying and became a principal provider of domestic air connectivity. Its services supported passenger travel between the islands and also included charter and cargo activity. The airline operated from a main base at Nelson Mandela International Airport in Praia and used regional aircraft appropriate for short domestic sectors. In August 2019, the business adopted the name Transportes Interilhas de Cabo Verde, commonly abbreviated as TICV. The rebranding marked a move away from the Binter Cabo Verde commercial identity while preserving the company’s inter-island mission. In June 2021, Binter Canarias exited the investment. BestFly Worldwide acquired a reported 70 percent majority stake, while the Government of Cape Verde retained a reported 30 percent interest. The airline was subsequently presented under the Bestfly Cabo Verde name. By July 2022, the carrier was reported to serve all seven Cape Verde airports. This represented the broadest form of its domestic network described in the available reference material and positioned the company as a nationwide island-connection airline. Its historical fleet included Embraer 190 aircraft, although the available source does not provide a complete fleet chronology. Operational continuity deteriorated from 2023. The airline suspended most services in mid-2023, attributing the interruption to operational difficulties. It later announced that all flights would be suspended from 19 April to 7 May 2024. The available reference material records that the airline had not resumed active service after that period and reports that the disruption was associated with problems in its ACMI arrangements. No reliable information in the supplied material confirms a formal liquidation, a permanent closure or a resumption date. Consequently, the company’s present legal status remains uncertain, while its operating status is best described as suspended. The brand’s history therefore has three principal phases: the Binter Cabo Verde launch under Binter Canarias, the TICV period following the 2019 name change, and the Bestfly Cabo Verde period after the 2021 ownership transaction. Across all three phases, its essential function was domestic air transport within Cape Verde.

• 2024

  All operations suspended

  [1]Bestfly Cabo Verdeen.wikipedia.org

  The airline announced a suspension from 19 April to 7 May, after which the supplied reference states that active service had not resumed.

• 2023

  Major flight suspensions begin

  [1]Bestfly Cabo Verdeen.wikipedia.org

  Most flights were suspended in mid-2023 amid reported operational difficulties.

• 2022

  Network reported to cover all seven Cape Verde airports

  [1]Bestfly Cabo Verdeen.wikipedia.org

  The airline was reported to serve every airport in Cape Verde by July.

• 2021

  Majority ownership transferred to BestFly Worldwide

  [1]Bestfly Cabo Verdeen.wikipedia.org

  Binter Canarias sold a reported 70 percent stake to BestFly Worldwide, with the Cape Verdean government retaining a reported 30 percent.

• 2019

  Rebranded as TICV

  [1]Bestfly Cabo Verdeen.wikipedia.org

  The company changed its name from Binter Cabo Verde to Transportes Interilhas de Cabo Verde.

• 2017

  Domestic network role expands after TACV withdrawal

  [1]Bestfly Cabo Verdeen.wikipedia.org

  Following TACV’s discontinuation of domestic flights, Binter Cabo Verde took over inter-island services.

• 2016

  Commercial operations begin

  [1]Bestfly Cabo Verdeen.wikipedia.org

  Flights began on 12 November, initially connecting Santiago, Sal and São Vicente.

• 2015

  Airline founded as Binter Cabo Verde

  [1]Bestfly Cabo Verdeen.wikipedia.org

  The Cape Verdean regional airline was established as a subsidiary of Binter Canarias.

A domestic and regional connectivity provider focused on scheduled and charter air services between Cape Verde’s islands, with a role in maintaining nationwide air links after the withdrawal of TACV from domestic operations.

• Passenger airline services · 2016

  Scheduled inter-island passenger flights

  The airline’s principal historical offering was scheduled domestic passenger transportation between Cape Verde’s islands. The network began with Santiago, Sal and São Vicente and later expanded to all seven Cape Verde airports, according to the available reference material. These services addressed the practical need for air links across an archipelago where inter-island travel is central to residents, businesses and visitors. Service is currently reported as suspended, with no confirmed restart date in the supplied sources.

• Charter airline services

  Charter flights

  Bestfly Cabo Verde’s predecessor and current canonical airline identity have been described as providing charter services in addition to scheduled flying. Charter operations can support tourism, institutional travel and other movements that do not fit a fixed inter-island timetable. The supplied material does not identify specific charter routes, customers or current availability.

• Cargo airline services

  Air-cargo services

  Cargo transportation formed part of the airline’s described business scope. Domestic air freight is relevant in Cape Verde because it can move goods between islands more quickly than maritime alternatives. The available source does not provide shipment volumes, dedicated freighter details or a current cargo schedule.

• 2024

  Suspension of all operationsOther

  Background

  The airline announced another interruption after earlier service disruptions.

  Action taken

  All operations were announced as suspended from 19 April until 7 May 2024.

  Aftermath

  The supplied reference records no confirmed return to active service and links the continuing disruption to ACMI-related operating issues.

  Source

• 2023

  Suspension of most flightsOther

  Background

  The airline encountered operational difficulties during its domestic flying program.

  Action taken

  Most flights were temporarily suspended in mid-2023.

  Aftermath

  The interruption was followed by a further suspension of all operations in 2024, and the supplied reference states that active service had not resumed afterward.

  Source

• 2021

  Sale of majority stake to BestFly WorldwideM&A

  Background

  Binter Canarias decided to divest from the Cape Verdean airline.

  Action taken

  BestFly Worldwide acquired a reported 70 percent stake, while the Government of Cape Verde retained a reported 30 percent interest.

  Aftermath

  The airline was rebranded as Bestfly Cabo Verde and continued to be associated with domestic Cape Verde services.

  Source

• 2019

  Adoption of the TICV nameStrategy

  Background

  The airline had operated since its 2016 launch under the Binter Cabo Verde identity associated with Binter Canarias.

  Action taken

  The company changed its name to Transportes Interilhas de Cabo Verde, abbreviated as TICV.

  Aftermath

  The company continued its domestic inter-island role under a locally oriented name until the subsequent ownership change and Bestfly rebranding.

  Source

1. 1Bestfly Cabo Verdeen.wikipedia.org
2. 2TICV official websiteticv.cv