Cape Verde Airports See Strong Year-Over-Year Growth in May 2026 Passenger and Cargo Traffic

In May 2026, Cape Verde's national airports recorded a total of 3,232 aircraft movements, a 4.0% decrease from April, attributed to a decline in both domestic (-5.5%) and international (-2.7%) traffic. Despite this monthly dip, a year-over-year comparison reveals a significant 23.5% increase compared to May 2025, indicating a sustained recovery in air activity. Passenger numbers for the month reached 258,689, a 11.6% reduction from April, with both domestic (-8.9%) and international (-12.4%) segments experiencing a decrease. However, when measured against May 2025, passenger traffic grew by 8.1%, driven by a substantial 43.2% rise in domestic travel and an 11.9% increase in international travel. The AAC reported that demand for air transport remains above last year's levels. Cargo transport demonstrated the strongest performance, with 170,571 kilograms moved, a 28.4% increase from April, fueled by international (+29.6%) and domestic (+19.5%) segments. Annually, cargo activity surged by 72.7%, the highest growth across all AAC-analyzed indicators. Airmail also saw growth, totaling 44,583 kilograms, an 8.6% increase from the previous month, primarily due to international mail (+32.7%), while domestic mail remained nearly flat (+0.1%). Compared to May 2025, airmail increased by 12.3%. Overall, the AAC's report highlights positive year-over-year trends in national airport activity for May 2026, with notable increases in passengers, cargo, and mail, despite month-to-month fluctuations.