22/03/11 - TAP authorized to fly to São Vicente

The inaugural flight is scheduled for early July and will be operated by an Airbus 320, according to the TAP delegate in Cape Verde, Luís Garcia, who confirmed that the airline will carry out two flights every week between Portuguese capital Lisbon and São Vicente’s São Pedro International Airport, on Tuesdays and Fridays. 

“Flying to São Pedro International Airport on the island of São Vicente was already planned as one of TAP’s new destinations in Africa. We had to negotiate with the two fuel companies for supply purposes, but we closed an accord with Shell, which already has installations at the airport, because we wanted to begin operations this coming summer,” affirmed the TAP delegate. 

Luís Garcia stressed that TAP already carries out direct flights to Sal and Praia, but had a handicap regarding passengers to São Vicente, who were obliged to spend the night on Sal or in the capital city before heading to their final destination. “We’re not expecting just the ethnic market, but also a great deal of tourists. With direct connections, we can offer a complete package.” 

The target public, he explained, are above all itinerant tourists who visit two or three islands, use smaller-scale hotels and restaurants and, as such, leave money in Cape Verde. “They’re middle-class tourists of a certain age, stability and financial availability. We’re thinking mainly about German and French tourists.” 

TAP will soon launch a campaign to advertise this new destination on the Internet. The company also expects to make a formal presentation on the island of São Vicente, according to Luís Garcia, considering the market’s importance. “I think that our clients in this region, who’ve always demonstrated a preference for TAP, deserve it,” he concluded.

 

Source: A Semana