14/04/11 - TAP airline reduces airfare to Cape Verde

Portuguese airline TAP is currently offering promotional fares on flights originating in Praia, Sal and São Vicente and flying to the Portuguese cities of Lisbon, Porto and Faro. Alongside the promotion – 219 Euros plus taxes – the company is negotiating a special fare for the launch of its direct São Vicente-Lisbon flight, according to TAP’s Cape Verde representative, Luís Garcia.

According to Luís Garcia, the promotion will be valid until June 15, with a short interruption on Easter. “This promotional fare accompanies other packages as well. The direct flights from Praia, São Vicente or Sal to Lisbon, Porto or Faro costs 24,100 escudos plus taxes. The fuel tax is 180 Euros,” explains Garcia.

Beginning June 16, continues Garcia, the normal fares will once again go into effect, but TAP has already begun planning other promotions. “TAP’s operations to Cape Verde are going well. We have a good occupancy rate. For example, for the months of January and February together we have 13% growth in departures for Lisbon. That’s more than 3,700 passengers. And we’re very optimistic about Easter,” adds Garcia.

Based on advanced reservations, Luís Garcia expects 15% growth in the month of April. 20% of these passengers will have the island of Sal as their destination, while 12% will have Praia as their destination. “For the month of May our reservations indicate 54% growth on flights to Praia and Sal. 79% of passengers have the island of Sal as their destination – some 12,000 passengers – and 17% Praia.”

The airline foresees exceptional growth in demand. For the month of June, for example, advanced reservations point toward growth on the order of 63%. “This demand is not unrelated to the upheaval in the Middle East. Cape Verde is coming across as an alternative, and proof of this is that TuiFLy has increased its number of flights to the country and now has some 5,000 seats to Cape Verde weekly.”

Source: Asemana