The first of two Boeing 737-800s bought by Cape Verde’0s flagship airline Transportes Aéreos de Cabo Verde (TACV) from the International Lease Finance Corporation (ILFC) to renew its fleet, was delivered Wednesday in North Carolina, USA, the airline’s Communications director said.

Carlos Carvalho did not give a date for the arrival of the aircraft in Cape Verde but Cape Verdean newspaper A Semana said that the new Boeing would land at Nelson Mandela airport in Praia in July.

The aircraft has capacity to carry just over 150 passengers and will allow TACV to open up new routes to the sub-African region, which is a market that Cape Verde wants to explore, as well as to increase links to Boston (United States), which is increasingly sought after.

The second Boeing is due to arrive in September and has capacity to carry 162 passengers. It is expected to operate on the Cape Verde-Portugal route and will allow TACV to return the Air Atlantic aircraft that currently operates the route.

According to Cape Verde’s official bulletin TACV will make monthly payments of US$310,000 to a total of US$2.17 million to lease the two aircraft. (macauhub)