Cape Verde has four international airports: Amilcar Cabral International Airport on Sal, Nelson Mandela International Airport in Praia on Santiago, Aristides Pereira Airport on Boa Vista, and Cesaria Evora Airport in Mindelo on Sao Vicente. Sal handles the most international traffic.
From Europe, Cape Verde is well connected. Cabo Verde Airlines, the national carrier, flies from Lisbon and Paris. TAP Portugal connects through Lisbon. EasyJet flies from Lisbon, Porto, and London Gatwick to Sal. TUI, British Airways, and various charter operators run seasonal flights from the UK, Germany, the Netherlands, and Scandinavia, mostly to Sal and Boa Vista. Flight time from Lisbon is about three and a half hours.
From the US, direct options are limited. Cabo Verde Airlines has announced service to Providence, Rhode Island -- home to a large Cape Verdean diaspora -- but schedules have been inconsistent. Most US travelers connect through Lisbon or another European hub.
From West Africa, Cabo Verde Airlines and ASKY Airlines connect Praia to Dakar, Senegal and other regional capitals. Dakar is the closest mainland city, about an hour's flight away.
Which airport you fly into matters. If you are heading to the beach islands (Sal or Boa Vista), fly into Sal or Boa Vista directly. If you want to explore Santiago, Fogo, or Brava, fly into Praia. For Santo Antao or Mindelo, fly into Sao Vicente -- or into Sal and take a short domestic flight or ferry across. Plan your entry point around where you actually want to go, because inter-island connections are not always convenient.