Cape Verde and VINCI Airports sign concession contract for seven airports

Credit: VINCI Airports

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

The contract covers four international airports (Praia, Sal, São Vicente, and Boa Vista) and three domestic airports (São Nicolau, São Filipe, and Maio).

Over a 40-year period, VINCI Airports and its Portuguese subsidiary ANA (owning, respectively, 70 per cent and 30 per cent 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 per cent 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 per cent 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 passenger 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 Notebaert: “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.”