EasyJet’s longest flight will launch later this month, to a stunning African island which, while boasting Caribbean-like weather and beaches, is a fraction of the cost. This new route will be a first for the budget airline when it launches from London Gatwick later this month. 

Cape Verde is an island country and archipelagic state of West Africa in the central Atlantic Ocean, consisting of ten volcanic islands across an area of around 1,550 square miles. They lie around 400 nautical miles west of Cape Verde, the westernmost point of continental Africa. The Cape Verde islands form part of the ecoregion which also includes the Azores, the Canary Islands, Madeira and the Savage Isles. 

Currently, Brits can only fly to Cape Verde with TUI, who have routes from London Gatwick, Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol and Newcastle.

But that will change later this month, with holidaymakers having more options when flying from the UK’s second busiest airport.

The new route starts on March 31 and will operate thrice a week on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. 

The flight will last an impressive six hours, but as Cape Verde uses a timezone one hour behind the UK (CVT), Brits will gain and extra hour back to explore the stunning island on their first day. Passengers will take off at 11.30am from the UK and land in Sal at 3:40pm.

On launch day, lucky travellers could be jetting off for a week’s holiday with easyJet for just £230.98 per person for a return, according to easyJet’s website. Return flights leave later from Sal, taking off at 4:35pm and arriving back in the UK just after midnight. 

The Gatwick-Sal flight rivals the budget airline’s other longest flight, which operates from Belfast to Hurghada, Egypt, and takes around six hours. 

Most tourists visit the island of Sal or Bol, home to the main holiday resorts. Often dubbed “Africa’s answer to the Caribbean”, it boasts beautiful weather and stunning white sandy beaches. 

Travellers flock to Sal during the dry season from November to May. During these months, the weather’s generally warm with temperatures ranging between 25 and 30C. The humidity levels drop during this time of year, and rainfall is at its lowest, so while the sun shines non-stop, it’s perfectly comfortable weather.

Visitors will have the chance to experience a blend of African and Portuguese culture, as the country only became independent in the 1970s. Its population of around 600,000 (as of 2022) is of mostly Sub-Saharan African and minor European heritage, predominantly Catholic, and its official language is Portuguese, reflecting this legacy. 

Santiago is the most populated island and home to the capital, Praia. Here, you can find local markets, small cafes, restaurants, and ice cream shops, perfect for cooling down after a day in the hot sun. Since 2016, the historic centre has been on the tentative list of World Heritage Sites. 

Among the favourite beaches in Cape Verde are Santa Maria on Sal, popular for both sun-worshippers and water sport enthusiasts, dotted with colourful fishing boats, and Santa Monica on Boa Vista, an incredible white sand beach that stretches some six miles across the southwest coast, meaning it’s very likely you won’t spot another soul.