Airline codes
VR · TCV
IATA · ICAO · callsign “CABOVERDE”
Every Cabo Verde Airlines flight number begins with VR. Flight-tracking sites and air traffic control use the ICAO code TCV, and the radio callsign is CABOVERDE.
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Cabo Verde Airlines (VR) Guide
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Airline
Flights from Sal and Praia to Lisbon, Paris, Brazil and the US, plus Cape Verde’s islands, fleet, baggage, check-in and how to find cheaper Cabo Verde Airlines fares. Ask a question
In short
Cabo Verde Airlines is the national airline of Cape Verde, based at Amílcar Cabral International on Sal. A small Boeing 737 fleet flies to about 12 airports in Cape Verde, Portugal, France, Italy, Brazil and the USA, linking the islands with Europe and the Americas. It has no alliance or loyalty scheme listed. Every seat is Economy.
Cabo Verde Airlines, called TACV until 2018, is the national airline of Cape Verde.
Please note: bookingMentor is an independent travel service and is not affiliated with Cabo Verde Airlines. Routes, schedules and baggage rules change, so always confirm the details of your booking with the airline.
What to expect
Cabo Verde Airlines (IATA VR), formerly TACV, is the national airline of Cabo Verde, the island nation off West Africa. It flies from its hub at Amílcar Cabral International Airport on Sal to the other islands and to Portugal, France, Italy, Brazil and the United States. It is the airline most visitors meet when flying to the beaches of Sal and Boa Vista, and it links the Cabo Verdean community in Europe and New England with home.
History of TACV
Transportes Aéreos de Cabo Verde was set up in 1958, when the islands were still a Portuguese colony. After independence in July 1975 it became the national airline, and in 1983 it became a state company. European flights began in 1985 with Lisbon, and the same year a DC-10 leased from LAM Mozambique opened a route to Boston, serving the large Cabo Verdean community in Massachusetts. The first Boeing 757-200 arrived in 1996.
Competition arrived in 1998, when Cabo Verde Express began flying. The airports on Brava and Santo Antão closed in 2003 and 2007, ending service to those islands.
The Icelandair years and after
In August 2017 the government handed management to Loftleidir Icelandic, part of the Icelandair Group, and the hub moved from Praia to Sal. Icelandair supplied Boeing 757s from November 2017, and the airline rebranded as Cabo Verde Airlines in May 2018. On 1 March 2019 Loftleidir paid 1.3 million euros for 51 per cent of the shares.
A new board took over in June 2021 and began restructuring and shrinking the airline. Ownership records now list the State of Cabo Verde as owner, and Pedro Barros is chief executive. The company employs about 200 people.
Sal hub and inter-island routes
Sal is the hub. As of May 2026 domestic flights link it with Praia on Santiago, Boa Vista, Maio, São Nicolau and São Vicente. International routes go to Lisbon and Porto in Portugal, Paris, Bergamo in northern Italy, Recife in Brazil and Providence in Rhode Island.
Cabo Verde Airlines codeshares with Africa World Airlines, Azores Airlines and TAAG Angola Airlines, and has interline deals with Africa World Airlines and APG Airlines. It is not in a global alliance.
Flying between Sal, Praia and the other islands
Each of Cabo Verde's inhabited islands has its own character, and the domestic flights are the fastest way between Sal, Praia on Santiago and São Vicente. Brava and Santo Antão have had no airport service since 2003 and 2007.
Book the international flight and the island hop on one Cabo Verde Airlines ticket where possible, so a delay on the first flight does not leave you stranded. Leave a spare day before a flight home if you are coming from another island.
Checking for frequent schedule changes
Check the latest schedule shortly before travel, because the route list has changed many times since 2017.
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Good to know
- AllianceNone
- Founded1958
- Other gatewaysRAI
- Online check-inNo
Everything you should know
At a glance
Cabo Verde Airlines (IATA: VR, ICAO: TCV) is the national airline of Cape Verde, founded in 1958 as TACV and based at Amílcar Cabral International Airport on Sal. It flies a small Boeing 737 fleet to Portugal, France, Italy, Brazil and the US, and to other Cape Verde islands.
| Headquarters | Sal, Cape Verde |
|---|---|
| Fleet types | Boeing 737 MAX 8, 737-700 |
| Official website | caboverdeairlines.com |
Flight routes
Destinations and routes
Destinations listed in Cabo Verde Airlines’ published network, grouped by region. Seasonal and new Cabo Verde Airlines routes come and go, so check the schedule for your dates.
Search flights
Cape Verde
Sal (SID) departures5 destinations
FromTo SID RAI SalPraia Available airlines1 airline- Cabo Verde Airlines
FromTo SID BVC SalBoa Vista Available airlines1 airline- Cabo Verde Airlines
FromTo SID VXE SalSão Vicente Available airlines1 airline- Cabo Verde Airlines
FromTo SID MMO SalMaio Available airlines1 airline- Cabo Verde Airlines
FromTo SID SNE SalSão Nicolau Available airlines1 airline- Cabo Verde Airlines
Abroad
Sal (SID) departures6 destinations
FromTo SID LIS SalLisbon Available airlines1 airline- Cabo Verde Airlines
FromTo SID OPO SalPorto Available airlines1 airline- Cabo Verde Airlines
FromTo SID CDG SalParis Available airlines1 airline- Cabo Verde Airlines
FromTo SID BGY SalMilan Bergamo Available airlines1 airline- Cabo Verde Airlines
FromTo SID REC SalRecife Available airlines1 airline- Cabo Verde Airlines
FromTo SID PVD SalProvidence Available airlines1 airline- Cabo Verde Airlines
Fleet and aircraft
A small fleet of Boeing 737-700 and 737 MAX 8 jets (first MAX 8 in July 2023) for international routes, and ATR 72-600 turboprops for island hops.
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Boeing 737 MAX 8 Narrow-body · 1 International routes
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Boeing 737-700 Narrow-body · 1 International and regional routes
Cabin classes
One cabin.
Economy All flights
Simple service
Checked bag on most fares
Frequent flyer programme
Details of the Cabo Verde Airlines loyalty programme are being added
Add your membership number when you book to earn miles.
Baggage allowance
Cabo Verde Airlines does not give every passenger the same allowance: the route, the cabin and the fare you buy each change it. Your VR e-ticket shows what you have.
Checked baggage
On your e-ticket
Cabin baggage
Depends on fare
Extra bags
Cheaper before you fly
Power banks
Cabin bag only
Allowances depend on route and fare and are shown on your e-ticket.
Pro tip: inter-island connections can be affected by weather and schedule changes; allow time between flights.
Travel day
Online Check-in
Getting through check-in for Cabo Verde Airlines is simpler in this order. Start at the airport counter and finish at bag drop.
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Step 1
Check in at the airport
Check in at the Cabo Verde Airlines counter at Amílcar Cabral International or your departure airport, and ask the airline whether online check-in is open for your flight.
Airline counter -
Step 2
Prepare your documents
International Cabo Verde Airlines passengers need a passport and whatever visa, residence permit or entry documents the destination requires. Domestic VR passengers should bring a photo ID the airline accepts.
Passport · visa · ID -
Step 3
Arrive early
Each airport has its own Cabo Verde Airlines check-in and bag-drop deadline, listed in your booking. Allow extra time for busy terminals and international VR departures.
Well before departure -
Step 4
Drop your bags
Hand in checked luggage at the Cabo Verde Airlines counter or bag drop, then keep your boarding pass and passport ready for security and the gate.
Cabo Verde Airlines counter
Ready to check in?
Check in and manage your booking on the official Cabo Verde Airlines website.
Save money
Cheap tickets
How to find a cheaper Cabo Verde Airlines fare without giving up the bag or seat you need.
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01
Try midweek VR flights
If your dates can move, look at VR flights across the whole week. Midweek seats are often cheaper than weekend ones.
Midweek flights -
02
Avoid peak seasons
Summer and Christmas, when Cape Verdeans abroad come home, are the busiest periods.
Summer & Christmas -
03
Check what each Cabo Verde Airlines fare includes
The lowest VR fare is not always the cheapest trip once bags and seats are added. Compare the fare types before you pay.
Baggage & changes -
Ready to compare fares?
Search Cabo Verde Airlines alongside every other airline on your route, with flexible dates.
Search Cabo Verde Airlines flights
Reviews and questions
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Visitors are asking
Yes. TACV was renamed Cabo Verde Airlines in 2018.
On Sal rather than in the capital, Praia, which is on Santiago island. Check where your international flight lands before planning onward travel.
Change rules come with each Cabo Verde Airlines fare, and the lowest ones allow the least. Make changes through the airline or whoever sold you the ticket.
Yes. Children under two usually travel on an adult’s lap with an infant ticket. Add the infant when you book and check Cabo Verde Airlines’ rules on prams and car seats.
Type the VR flight number into the status page on caboverdeairlines.com, the app or a flight tracker.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Everything travellers ask before flying Cabo Verde Airlines.
We check these Cabo Verde Airlines answers with the airline’s own sources and aviation references every season.
Getting there
Cabo Verde Airlines was founded in 1958 as Transportes Aéreos de Cabo Verde, known as TACV. It now flies under the Cabo Verde Airlines name with the VR airline code.
Amílcar Cabral International on Sal. Domestic flights fan out from there to islands such as Santiago (Praia), Boa Vista and São Vicente, so most island-hopping trips pass through Sal.
As of 2026, Cabo Verde Airlines serves international destinations in Portugal, France, Italy, Brazil and the United States. Check the current schedule for exact cities and seasonal routes.
Cabo Verde Airlines flies a small fleet of Boeing 737 aircraft, a 737-700 and a 737 MAX 8. It has ATR 72-600 turboprops on order for inter-island routes.
Baggage allowances depend on your fare and on whether the flight is domestic or international. Check the details in your booking confirmation or on the official Cabo Verde Airlines website before travelling.
Cabo Verde Airlines uses the IATA code VR and the ICAO code TCV.
As of May 2026 Cabo Verde Airlines flies to Providence, Rhode Island, which serves the Cabo Verdean community in New England.
From Sal it flies to Praia, Boa Vista, Maio, São Nicolau and São Vicente, as of May 2026.
No. Santo Antão's airport closed in 2007, and Cabo Verde Airlines has not flown there since. Ask locally about sea crossings from neighbouring islands.
Cabo Verde Airlines offers Economy class.
Online check-in: no. Check in on caboverdeairlines.com. The Check-in section of this guide walks through it in 4 steps.
No, Cabo Verde Airlines is not a member of Star Alliance, oneworld or SkyTeam.
Cabo Verde Airlines was founded in 1958, 68 years ago.
Contact Cabo Verde Airlines through its official website, caboverdeairlines.com.
General
The hub moved from Praia to Sal in 2017, when Loftleidir Icelandic of the Icelandair Group took over management of the airline.