Bestfly Cabo Verde (3B, Praia) resumed regular flight operations on August 20 with two ATR72-600s, citing supply chain and logistical challenges as reasons for recent cancellations and rescheduling of several flights.
Chairman Nuno Pereira informed ch-aviation that D4-BFA (msn 1099) had been AOG (aircraft on ground) due to a lack of parts since August 16 but had returned to service after the parts had arrived in Cabo Verde.
ADS-B data showed the aircraft had returned to Praia en route to São Filipe on August 16, but Pereira clarified this had been due to weather conditions at São Filipe and not due to a technical issue.
In a statement posted on social media, Pereira said: "The latest disruptions were due to existing difficulties in the supply chain and logistics, which affect the aviation industry at an international level, and [..] after several personal and financial efforts, it is now possible to regularise the situation". Flights cancelled between August 16 and 19 were rescheduled.
Pereira refuted media reports D4-BFA had been grounded after the national civil aviation regulator (Agência de Aviação Civil - AAC) withdrew the aircraft's airworthiness certificate following an alleged problem with one of its tires. "We also wish to inform that the company cannot agree with the conveyed information in the national media and social networks and that BestFly, as an international aviation group, adheres to the highest standards of operational safety and customer service excellence," Pereira said.
ADS-B data reveals that both D4-BFA and D4-BFB (msn 1028) have resumed their inter-island schedules in the Cabo Verde archipelago. A third ATR72-600, D2-BFC (msn 1060), has been in maintenance at Luanda 4 De Fevereiro, Angola, since June 2, 2023.
