TACV - Cabo Verde Airlines (Praia) has ended domestic Cape Verde operations as of August 1 with Binter CV (Praia) now responsible for all inter-island connectivity.

The move is part of a government-backed restructuring of loss-making TACV and will allow the carrier to focus on more profitable US and European operations. As part of the transition, the state-owned carrier retired its ATR - Avions de Transport Régional fleet in July.

Under the terms of its agreement with Binter, government will gain a 49% stake in Binter CV. The first tranche of 19% will reportedly cost government EUR1.1 million with the remaining 30% stake to be relinquished by Spanish parent Binter Canarias (NT, Gran Canaria) in return for its subsidiary's unfettered access to TACV's domestic and regional route portfolio.

As it stands, Binter CV is servicing its Cape Verde routes with two ATR72-500s although a third of the type is expected imminently. This aircraft will also allow for the proposed launch of Binter CV flights to Bissau, Guinea Bissau, and Dakar Yoff-Léopold Sédar Senghor International, Senegal, later next month.

To cope with the increase in traffic, Binter CV will hire an additional thirty ex-TACV staff.