It is necessary to look at the causes behind this destabilization of transport in the country

The Minister of Tourism and Transport cautioned that it was necessary to look at the causes behind “this destabilization” of air transport in the country, assuring that the Government is investing to stabilize the flag carrier.

Carlos Santos made these statements during an exclusive interview with Inforpress, when asked about the situation of transport, a sector that has been very contested in recent times.

According to the official, the air transport sector was the most affected by the pandemic, explaining at the same time that the company that provided inter-island transport ended up giving up, with the Government, however, responding “quickly” by hiring another company, which, as I said, is working until now.

Alongside TACV's situation, he continued that in less than nine months after privatization, the partners ended up giving up.

“Which led the government to intervene. Therefore, we have to look at this transport situation, but looking at the causes behind this destabilization that has occurred in the last two/three years”, he commented, admitting that this does not mean that the service, “in fact, I haven't had any injuries."

“And by all of us known. But we have to look at these causes to be able to understand why in 2020/2021 and 2022, we have these connectivity and inter-island mobility problems”, he reiterated, stating that in 2022, in terms of domestic transport, the operator Bestfly “is making its way”, in order to increase its flights.

In this sense, he exemplified that in the festive season, Bestfly “responded well”, having introduced a third aircraft, which, as he noted, is still in the country.

“And the idea is to see to what extent this increase in demand will continue to respond, which will inevitably continue to happen, and well, in the near future. Therefore, I believe that we are in this phase of improving domestic transport services”, he stressed.

In terms of international connectivity, Carlos Santos clarified that with the pandemic, TACV ended up being about 18 months without working, that is, from March until, practically, December 2021, “causing huge losses”.

“And, from December 2021, we managed to get the company, again, to explore the first route, which is the Cape Verde / Portugal route”, he said, announcing that the Government is working towards the acquisition of a second aircraft .

The holder of the Tourism and Transport portfolio also spoke of a stabilization and recovery plan, approved in 2021 with the aim of having TACV as another connectivity solution with the outside world.

“Because being a country that has a strong immigrant community abroad, and with tourism being the main driving sector of the economy, it is our understanding that TACV continues to have conditions to be an excellent instrument for this connection with the diaspora”, justified the ruler.

“Therefore, we can never look at TACV within the limits of what its losses or profits are. We have to see what other effect it has, namely on the transport of immigrants who are potential investors in the country, tourists too, and who spend money when they are in the country”, commented Carlos Santos.

When casting this look, he said that it is with this understanding that the Government is investing to maintain and stabilize the flagship company, believing that it is in a phase of improvement in transport.

“And, in 2023, with the increase in demand, it is to be expected that there will be considerable improvements, and that we will return to what were the quality levels that we had before the pandemic”, he aimed.

Carlos Santos concluded, referring that the reinforcement of capital in TACV is foreseen, through an instrument approved in 2022, intending to approve it also in 2023, to make the company “stable”, and thus carry out a new privatization of the company .

“This is the path we have defined for the company”, he concluded.