Cabo Verde Airlines Seeks New ACMI After Groundings

Cabo Verde Airlines is in talks to secure new ACMI agreements after two of its wet-leased aircraft were grounded following unrelated incidents on August 31, 2025. The disruptions, which affected flights at Praia, have further strained the carrier’s already limited operations.

The affected flights were VR4501, operated with LY-JUP, an ATR72-500 wet-leased from Jump Air, and VR4204, operated with ZS-DHA, a DHC-8-Q300 wet-leased from South Africa’s CemAir. Both aircraft were involved in separate incidents at Praia, after which passengers were safely disembarked in accordance with safety protocols, the airline confirmed.

Since the incidents, both aircraft remain out of service, according to Flightradar24 data. Cabo Verde Airlines said it has launched internal investigations and is negotiating two new ACMI contracts with undisclosed operators to restore capacity.

This is the third time in a month the airline’s operations have been disrupted due to fleet challenges. The carrier currently relies on a small core fleet of one Boeing 737-700 and one Boeing 737-8, which cannot operate to certain domestic airports due to runway limitations.

As a result, Cabo Verde Airlines announced temporary cuts to its domestic network, affecting routes between Praia and São Vicente, Praia and Sal, and Praia and São Filipe.

The setbacks underscore the airline’s dependence on short-term wet-leases to maintain schedules. With demand growing and infrastructure constraints persisting, Cabo Verde Airlines faces mounting pressure to stabilize its fleet strategy and ensure consistent connectivity across its domestic and regional markets.

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Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, ch-aviation.com