Aviation History
Cape Verde's national carrier traces to an airline founded in 1958 that became the country's designated flag carrier at independence from Portugal in 1975 and was formalized as state-owned TACV in 1983. After decades of financial strain, the Cape Verdean government partnered with Icelandair's Loftleidir Icelandic in 2017–2019, which took a 51% majority stake, and the airline was rebranded Cabo Verde Airlines in 2018, using Sal Island's Amílcar Cabral International Airport as its hub.
The airline that would become TACV / Cabo Verde Airlines was established under Portuguese colonial administration.
Following Cape Verde's independence from Portugal, the airline was designated the new nation's flag carrier.
The carrier was reorganized as Transportes Aéreos de Cabo Verde (TACV), a state-owned company.
TACV began European service to Lisbon and transatlantic flights to Boston using a McDonnell Douglas DC-10.
TACV took delivery of its first Boeing 757-200, named 'B.Leza', upgrading its long-haul fleet.
The carrier adopted the Cabo Verde Airlines name and livery to strengthen its national identity, alongside new majority ownership by Icelandair's Loftleidir.
Icelandair Group's Loftleidir Icelandic completed acquisition of a 51% stake in the airline in March 2019.
Cabo Verde Airlines added its first Boeing 737 MAX 8 for international routes in July 2023.
Cabo Verde Airlines (formerly TACV) · Bestfly Cabo Verde
Wikipedia, Cabo Verde Airlines corporate site, AFRAA