Praia, March 19, 2026 (Lusa) – Cabo Verde’s government announced on Thursday the sale of a 51% stake in the state-owned airport ground handling company, CV Handling, to Swissport.

The Swiss firm was selected during the privatisation process after presenting a plan committed to "preserving jobs" and focusing on staff training, the government said in a statement.

Swissport is set to develop a "strategic investment plan" to expand the aerial platform and develop the civil aviation sector.

CV Handling was established in 2014 and is the only operator licensed to provide air transport ground handling services in Cabo Verde.

With 498 employees, it recorded a turnover of €16 million in 2024.

Swissport is a global leader in airport ground services and air cargo handling, serving 250 million passengers annually and managing over five million tonnes of air freight across 300 airports in 45 countries.

The Swiss company was selected after the Vinci Group announced, in February, the second phase of modernisation of Cabo Verde’s airports, worth €142 million, under the concession it was awarded by the government in 2022.

The number of airlines flying to Cabo Verde is growing thanks to tourism, and Vinci expects this trend to continue.

Of the seven airports, four have international connections (the islands of Sal, Boa Vista, Santiago and Sao Vicente) and three are dedicated to domestic flights (the islands of Fogo, Sao Nicolau and Maio).

RS/MYAL // ADB.

Lusa