Binter Canarias to set up new Cape Verde airline

Spanish regional airline Binter Canarias is establishing a subsidiary in Cape Verde. “We think we will get our license in 15 days and 1 week later we will start to fly,” Binter president Pedro Augustin de Castillo said. He added that Cape Verde was selected because the archipelago is similar to Binter Canarias’ core operation, between the Spanish Canary Islands. The new subsidiary, Binter CV, will initially operate 2 ATR 72-500s, although the fleet is expected to grow to 4 or 5 aircraft. These are being phased out of Binter Canarias’ main operation in favour of newer ATR 72-600s. The start-up will compete against incumbent carrier TACV Cape Verde Airlines, but Binter CV plans to offer more frequencies than its local rival and is expecting to carry around 400,000 passengers a year. <br/>