TAAG Angola is looking to grow business and commercial ties between Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), to support its own growth on the Luanda-Kinshasa sector. Starting August 14, the flag carrier will increase the frequency of the service from three to four times a week.
The service will be operated using a 74-seat De Havilland Canada Dash 8-400 configured with ten business and 64 economy class seats. It will depart Luanda every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.
The carrier says the additional flight is a direct response to market demand and will support the growing commercial and business ties between Angola and the DRC.
The additional frequency was announced on the back of the inaugural Angola–DRC Economic Forum that opened on August 1 in Kinshasa, under the theme “Economic Partnerships towards mutual growth“. This event brought together government representatives, trade chambers, and business leaders from both countries.
“TAAG is committed to providing greater connectivity and convenient services to the customer, positioning Angola as an important hub within the region,” the carrier said in a statement.
Angola and the DRC share an extensive border and a significant flow of bilateral trade. Both countries also belong to multiple regional groupings, including the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), the Gulf of Guinea Commission (CGG), and the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR), which between them generate significant feed into TAAG’s network of 13 international and 12 domestic destinations.
The 80-year carrier has an active fleet of thirteen aircraft with another nine in storage. During the Paris Airshow last June where TAAG placed new orders for seven Airbus A220-300s, Chief Executive Eduardo Fairen revealed plans to double the fleet to fifty aircraft over the course of the next three and half years. The aircraft, to be sourced from lessors, will take the carrier’s tally of A220s to thirteen units which will replace the Boeing 737s that are currently operated on the regional route network.
TAAG plans to launch new international and intra-African routes as it transitions to a new hub at the new-mint Luanda International Airport.
