The airline believes South Africa will be a key strategic market for its expanding cargo operations and expects demand to increase dramatically. TAAG Angola Airlines cargo director, Sajid Khan said: "South Africa is a key market within our cargo strategy and operational footprint. In 2022 we transported more than 1.6million kilograms of miscellaneous goods/cargo from Johannesburg to different parts of the world, and the trend is to increase the volume of cargo and demand for our services,"
South Africa is seen as a major arrival and departure point for international air cargo and TAAG is currently the only operator linking Africa with South America and the airline hopes to restart services to China in the near future. 'Re-establishing the routes with China will allow TAAG to offer long-haul links from Asia (China) to Africa (particularly South Africa) and South America (Brazil), with Angola (Luanda) as a stopover.' the carrier advised.
"Cargo segment is nowadays strategic for TAAG, with a rising contribution to the company’s sustainability. Thus, I see positive synergies and benefits for the business regarding the New Luanda International Airport – Dr António Agostinho Neto – going live in the next years." said Eduardo Fairen, CEO of TAAG.
TAAG has been around for over 70 years and has consistently demonstrated its ability to innovate. In 1940 with a fleet consisting of five small aeroplanes, the first flights depart from Luanda to Moçâmedes (nowadays Namibe), Lobito and Ponta Negra. In 1943 the airline started its first DC3 flights before a Fokker F27 was acquired in 1962. In 1975 the airline started flying to Lisbon in Portugal, establishing an international air link. During the next year, a Boeing 737 joined the fleet to help the airline grow and keep up with the innovations of aviation. It was in 1986 that the airline carried its one millionth passenger - a major milestone for the carrier. With the abrupt oil price drop and the deterioration of Angola's political and military situation, the company makes an extraordinary effort to respond to the country's needs. The nearly complete halt in road and rail transportation means that TAAG is the only reliable connection between Angola's main cities, becoming a true lifeline for its population.
On July 8th 1997, TAAG acquired its first Boeing 747 Jumbo Jet, which was named “Cidade do Kuito”, in honour of that city's martyred people. The 11th November 2006 was a special day for the airline, with the delivery of five new aircraft from Boeing - 3 Boeing 737-700NG and 2 Boeing 777-200ER. This was the first time that Boeing had delivered five jets simultaneously and was also a record breaking flight for the 777-200ER by flying from Seattle to Luanda in 16 hours and 40 seconds without refuelling. The carrier took a 3rd 777-200ER in 2008 which then saw the airline open more international routes the next year.
These days TAAG presents itself as a leading company for the modernisation of aerial transportation in Angola, through a reliable and financially sustainable operation that promotes Angola's image all around the world. The carrier has codeshare arrangements with Brussels Airlines, Cabo Verde Airlines, Linhas Aéreas de Moçambique, Lufthansa and South African Airways.
The airline has a fleet comprising of turboprop Dash 8 Q400 aircraft, Boeing 737 - 700 aircraft configured with 120 seats - 12 in Business class and 108 in the economy cabin. Boeing 777-200ER that has 14 first class seats, 51 Business class and 170 in economy. The flagship of the fleet is the 777-300ER that seats 239 people in a three class layout comprising of 225 economy, 56 business and 12 first class.
With an eye on the future the carrier recently enjoyed an Airbus A220 demonstration flight.