EasyJet launches flights from top UK airport to winter sun holiday hotspot just six hours from the UK
EASYJET is launching a new service from London Gatwick Airport to Cape Verde – a popular winter sun holiday destination with Brits.
Flights with the low-cost airline will start operating from next year, marking the airline’s first-ever flights and package holidays to a Sub-Saharan destination.
The London Gatwick service will start operating from March 31, 2025, with the thrice-weekly service launching every Monday, Wednesday and Friday throughout the summer.
Flights will land in Sal – a Cape Verde island that’s favoured among both Brits and surfers.
Outbound flights will depart London Gatwick at 10am, arriving in the tropical island at 2.10pm later that day.
Return services will then leave Cape Verde at 3.05pm before arriving in the UK at 10.55pm.
Sun Online Travel has found one-way fares from the UK from £134, with return fares starting from £66 per person.
In addition to the new easyJet flights, the tour operator will also be launching package holidays to Cape Verde.
Holidaymakers can choose from a range of hotels including the five star Melia Resorts, with options for families, adults-only and couples.
All of their packages come with return flights, as well as transfers, 23kg of baggage, and ABTA and ATOL protection.
While Cape Verde is already a popular winter sun holiday destination among Brits, tourist numbers to the island are rising, with roughly one million holidaymakers flocking to the island country in 2023.
Average temperatures rest around 25C to 27C, with temperatures rising to 32C in the summer.
Cape Verde has been dubbed “Africa‘s answer to the Caribbean” because of its picture-perfect beaches and hotel resorts.
Sal is already a popular spot among surfers, with the new easyJet bound to increase the island’s popularity with other tourists.
Each of Cape Verde’s islands has a different appeal, with Boa Vista, another popular island, known for its Blue Flag beaches.
Meanwhile, Santo Antão has been named one of the most visually impressive islands because it attracts less holidaymakers.
Santa Luzia is uninhabited but accessible via boat ride from Sao Vicente.
Other islands include the likes of Fogo, Santiago, Maio, Brava, Santa Luzia and São Nicolau.
Brit holidaymakers looking to travel to Cape Verde with easyJet will need to have at least six months left on their passport on arrival.
Brits can also stay in Cape Verde for up to 30 days without a visa.
The currency is Cape Verdean escudo (CVE) – £10 is around 1,281 escudo.
The news comes as the low-cost airline announced a wave of other new routes, including a new service from London Gatwick to Rimini.
What is it like to visit Cape Verde?
The Sun’s Head of Travel (Digital) Caroline McGuire visited Cape Verde in 2022, so knows all about the idyllic islands.
Cape Verde is certainly the place for those seeking winter sun, with the average highs reaching 24C in December.
And the best part is, unlike far-flung sunny favourites such as Florida, this collection of ten islands in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean can be reached in less than six hours from the UK.
Skin-scorching sun isn’t the only reason to visit the Portuguese-speaking country, though.
For those who like a bit of adrenaline, there’s kite-surfing along the aptly named Kite Beach (you’ll need strong arms), plus quad-biking on the desert landscape that makes up the bulk of the inner island.
Earlier this month, Sun Travel revealed their favourite winter sun destinations that are less than six hours from the UK
Here’s a jet-lag free holiday island to visit this winter, with cheap TUI packages too.