An aviation agreement has been signed on 23 March 2011 by the European Union and the Cape Verde authorities to allow any EU airline to operate flights between any EU Member State and Cape Verde, where a bilateral agreement exists and traffic rights are available.

This agreement will bring the existing bilateral aviation agreements between eight Member States and Cape Verde into line with European law.

Most importantly, it will remove restrictions on the nationality of the airline. This means that any EU airline will be able to operate flights between Cape Verde and a Member State that already has a bilateral agreement with Cape Verde, provided that traffic rights are available.

Previously, bilateral agreement between the eight Member States and Cape Verde restricted the number of airlines on the routes.