Newcastle Airport’s new direct Sal route strengthens UK links with Cape Verde
The Resort Group Plc welcomes greater connectivity between the Northeast and Sal as TUI adds Cape Verde to its biggest-ever Newcastle winter programme.
The launch of direct TUI flights between Newcastle International Airport and Sal is opening Cape Verde to thousands more holidaymakers from the Northeast of England, further strengthening the island’s connections with one of its most important tourism markets.
TUI has added Sal to what it described as its “biggest ever” winter programme from Newcastle, with weekly flights to the Cape Verdean island beginning on 7 November 2023.
The new route marks the first time Sal has been offered as a direct destination from Newcastle International Airport and gives travellers across the Northeast easier access to one of Cape Verde’s leading holiday islands.
For The Resort Group Plc, which has developed a significant hospitality presence on Sal, the expansion of direct air connectivity represents another positive step in the continued development of the island as an international tourism destination.
The Group’s Meliá hotels on Sal sit under The Lagoon Resorts umbrella, offering visitors a range of resort experiences on an island increasingly accessible from regional airports across the UK.
Sal has become particularly popular with British holidaymakers looking for reliable winter sunshine without travelling as far as many traditional long-haul destinations.
With around 350 days of sunshine a year, extensive sandy beaches and a warm climate, the island offers an attractive alternative for travellers looking beyond established winter destinations in the Caribbean, Canary Islands and North Africa.
Lisa Kellett, Chief of Staff at The Resort Group Plc, said:
“The introduction of a direct connection from Newcastle to Sal is fantastic news for the island and another indication of Cape Verde’s growing appeal to British holidaymakers.
“Regional connectivity is incredibly important. Making Sal directly accessible to people across the North East means that many more travellers can experience Cape Verde without first having to travel to one of the major London airports.
“For The Resort Group Plc and our Meliá hotels within The Lagoon Resorts, developments such as this are particularly encouraging because they support the long-term growth of tourism on Sal and introduce the destination to new audiences across the UK.”
The Newcastle-Sal service will operate weekly on Tuesdays throughout the winter season, beginning on 7 November.
It forms part of a major expansion by TUI at Newcastle International Airport, with the tour operator also introducing direct services to Sharm-el-Sheikh in Egypt.
Together, the two new winter routes increase the range of destinations available to travellers seeking warmer climates during the British winter. TUI’s programme will offer passengers flying from Newcastle a choice of 20 destinations during winter, with 38 holiday destinations available across the year.
The decision to introduce Sal alongside an established winter-sun destination such as Sharm-el-Sheikh also demonstrates how Cape Verde is becoming an increasingly mainstream option for UK travellers.
Sal is the archipelago’s principal tourism island and has developed a strong international hospitality sector centred particularly around the coastal town of Santa Maria and its surrounding resort areas.
Its combination of beaches, sunshine, water sports, hotels and relatively manageable flight time from Britain has helped establish Cape Verde as an alternative to more traditional winter-sun markets.
Newcastle International Airport described Sal and Sharm-el-Sheikh as “hugely sought after” destinations when announcing the additional services.
Leon McQuaid, Director of Aviation Development at Newcastle International Airport, said the routes would provide people across the North East with greater choice when looking for “guaranteed winter sun at great value”.
TUI UK and Ireland Managing Director Andrew Flintham also highlighted the company’s longstanding relationship with Newcastle International Airport and its commitment to expanding the holiday choices available to customers in the region.
For The Resort Group Plc, improved air links are an important component of Sal’s continued tourism development.
The company has invested extensively in the island’s hospitality sector, helping to create large-scale resorts capable of serving the growing international visitor market.
Through The Lagoon Resorts, its collection of Meliá hotels on Sal provides accommodation, restaurants, bars, pools, leisure facilities and resort experiences for international guests, including the significant number of visitors arriving from the UK.
Lisa Kellett added:
“Every new route strengthens Sal’s connection with the international tourism market. It is not simply about adding another flight; it makes Cape Verde a realistic and convenient holiday choice for an entirely new regional audience.
“The UK has become an extremely important market for Cape Verde, and seeing airlines and tour operators increase the number of departure points available to British travellers gives us great confidence in the destination’s future.
“Sal has all the ingredients people are looking for in a winter escape – sunshine, beautiful beaches, excellent hospitality and a distinctive Cape Verdean identity. Greater connectivity gives more people the opportunity to discover that for themselves.”
With the first Newcastle flight scheduled for 7 November 2023, the new service represents another important connection between the UK and Cape Verde – and another gateway through which British visitors can discover Sal and The Lagoon Resorts.