Worst airline experience ever
I’ve been travelling for +25 years and I have never experienced anything like this.I was scheduled to fly from Fogo Island to Santiago Island in order to catch my connection home. On the morning of the flight, I went to the check-in counter and, while passengers were waiting, the airline announced the flight was cancelled for “operational reasons.” That was the only information provided: no explanation, no clear rebooking plan, and no timeline.The airline took passengers to a nearby hotel and told us to wait for updates. From that moment on, communication was non-existent. We tried to contact the airline repeatedly through different channels, without success. Hours went by with no information, no emails, no phone calls, and no updates on the website. We were effectively stranded on Fogo, completely in the dark about whether and when we would reach Praia and therefore unable to plan or rebook our onward travel.Only at the end of the day did the airline finally confirm they had rearranged a flight for the following day. In the end, we reached our destination around a day and a half later than originally scheduled. On top of all this, you cannot claim any compensation for cancellation or delay because it does not fall within European Union rules. They can act with complete impunity. This has been the most frustrating and embarrassing airline experience of my life. It’s also a real shame for the country: the lack of reliability and repeated cancellations make travelling around Cape Verde feel risky, because an airline can easily disrupt or even ruin a holiday, as I saw happen to multiple passengers. Cape Verde is a beautiful country with lovely people, but visitors and residents alike deserve a reliable airline with basic customer service and clear communication.
Charlie
This company will steal your money
I had a connecting flight Sao Vicente (VXE) - Praia (RAI) - Sao Filipe (SFL), however the segment RAI-SFL was canceled, and they reaccommodated me on a flight the next day. That didn't make sense for me since I didn't want to spend one day in Praia, so I flew to Praia with my original flight, and then took the ferry.My flight was scheduled for 31.10, and the cancelation notice from Cabo Verde was received on the 22nd of October, less than 10 days from departure. In normal circumstances I would have requested the full refund of the flight, and then would have booked just the flight VXE-RAI again; however with such short notice, only the first segment was already more expensive than the overall trip, that is why I was forced to take only part of the trip.I immediately requested a partial refund to Cabo Verde airlines, which was ignored. I also filled a formular in Praia airport, that had to be deposited in one of the mailboxes of the terminal. That was ignored too. I even opened an online claim in with the aviation authority, however seeing how much time has passed, I believe this will be ignored too.I tried as well requesting a charge back with my bank, but since I used part of the trip, they refused.I am pretty sure Cabo Verde Airlines at this point stole my money.
Pedro Matesanz
Worst company ever
Worst company ever. Cancellations without any reason, force you to wait, and wait, and wait... 2 days lost for a domestic flight.
Pablo Haro Preston
Terrible..
Terrible... Lisbon to Praia,,they sent an email 12 hours before departure ,that I didn't see until I was almost at the check in desk..that my booking had been changed until the next day...7th January to 8th January...the ground staff couldn't care less...even the person in their small office inside Lisbon airport.. it was apparently due to a flight that was cancelled on 6th January... don't risk travelling with this airline...it's not worth the massive inconvenience..
Lott Kieth Richard
Never again
Cabo Verde are some really nice islands, nice people living there. It would be a nice area to do island hopping and see all islands, BUT:YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN Cabo Verde Airlines CANCEL A FLIGHT or CHANGE THEIR SCHEDULE.We lost 3 days of our vacations driving to and from the airport and hoping, the flight will leave.
Christian Gresch
Unreliable Airline
I used this airline several times for domestic flights between the islands within 1 month (Nov. 2025), i.e. 10 times. Most of the flights were significantly delayed, two were canceled and no reason provided. In the end I had to book two new flights due to cancellations caused by CV airlines on my own costs. I tried twice to contact the airline by its customer service email service and asked for compensation but never received an answer which gave my the feeling that the airline management follows the 3 monkeys rule. This behaviour of the airline is quite unprofessional and unacceptable. Since about 35 years I fly 3rd world airlines among others and Cabo Verde airlines is by far the worst, probably caused by the fact that there is no strong competitor available and they can do what they want.
Ulf
Ruined holidays
It's by far the worst experience we ever had with an airline company. They cancelled two flights the night before during our holidays (they completely ruined it) without any kind of information, reason and support. You can't contact them, they don't respond anything. It's a shame, don't waste your time with them.
Aleix Duran Buch
Zéro support Zéro info
✈️🚫 Flight canceled – zero support!My flight VR4215 (São Vicente → Sal, Aug 23, 2024) was canceled the night before.No hotel, no food, no transport, no info.I was traveling with my autistic son and had to pay everything myself.This airline ruined our holidays.#CaboVerdeAirlines #PassengerRights #CaboVerde
Naiara NOZELA
Worst airline I’ve ever travelled with
Worst airline I’ve ever travelled with, and I travel a lot all over the world! They change schedules frequently, 0 response from customer service (you won’t get on the phone with anyone even of you try 100 calls), most rude, entitled staff, all hand luggage you can bring is 8kgs total and they weigh everything at check in (which you can’t do online) AND before boarding the plane, they make you pay 100€ at check in if you have above that weight (which you can’t even pay at the counter, you have to go to another area of the airport, wait in an endless line, and then go back to check in), lots of issues with payment upon reservation, and I’ve even heard a staff member screaming at customers claiming they were rude because they haven’t said ‘good morning’ (they were waiting for her to raise her eyes at them!!) and trying to teach them a lesson to arrive at the airport 3h30 earlier than the flight (they were waiting in lines for 1h because of the hand luggage issue and having to purchase it from another place in the airport than the check in counter!!!) The audacity is insane. And then the flight was late with absolutely no warning. Don’t travel with them, there’s many other companies flying to cabo verde (TAP, Sata, Easyjet) and you’ll be way better off with them (and in the end it will be cheaper for you too).
Catarina Bairrão
4 times delay in one day
4 times delay in one day. What a bad compagny
Bubblica NL
BEWARE ! SCAM ! DON'T USE CABO VERDE AIRLINES !
Cabo Verde cancelled our flight VR643 six weeks before departure (booking 571565731). We opted for the refund. Four months later we haven't received any refund. The claims department referred us to refundflycva, but we get no reaction from them. We asked the claims department for a name and telephone number at the refund department. WE DIDN'T GET this information so far. No help to send us from here to there. WE SHOULD GET THE REFUND WE ARE ENTITLED TO UNDER EUROPEAN LEGISLATION. WE READ IN THE REVIEWS on tripadvisor and trustpilot that MANY OTHERS experienced this in the last 6 years at least. WE CONTACTED THE EU IN ORDER TO SUBMIT A FORMAL COMPLAINT AND WE PLAN TO COMMISSION A LAWYER IF NECESSARY.
An Bossier
Hi have a nerve cracking experience…
Hi have a nerve cracking experience with booking a return flights from Sal to Praia for family of 4. It looks like I was scammed.I tried to booked tickets online but there was an error 500. So I contact the airline and they told me that they hold the reservation and I can do bank transfer. Do I did that and I haven't heard from them since. It's been about a week now. I'm desperately trying to contact them via email as they don't have UK customer support number, but without any success. Very stressful to say at least .
Maria
You suck
You suck badly.
Jonathan
This has to be the worst airline I…
This has to be the worst airline I booked my flight with ever. My flight both ways was changed and so far, 3 weeks on, no refund. They dont answer they phone (Tel:+238 350 0150), they dont reply to my emails I am trying now to check in online and my booking reference is not working on their useless website.I would for sure not recommend thi airline.
Bucas
Our flight got cancelled
Our flight got cancelled. It was finally rescheduled two days later (departing from another island). Because of the cancellation, we missed our flight from Paris to our end destination and had to book a new ticket last minute. We have not received any compensation and Cabo Verde Airlines is not replying to any emails.
Clara
Unfriendly,unprofessional…
Unfriendly,unprofessional…incredible.
Horia Neaga
Flight canceled and NO REFUND
I still haven't received my money back from a flight YOU cancelled. When will you refund all the customers who are in a similar situation???
St
