TAAG Angola Airlines explained

Airline:TAAG Angola Airlines
TAAG Linhas Aéreas de Angola
Iata:DT
Icao:DTA
Callsign:DTA[1]
Founded: (as DTA, Divisão dos Transportes Aéreos)
Subsidiaries: (100%)
Fleet Size:21
Destinations:31
Parent:Government of Angola (100%)
Headquarters:Luanda, Angola
Profit: US$-5 million (FY 2016)
Num Employees:3,268

TAAG Angola Airlines E.P. (Portuguese: TAAG Linhas Aéreas de Angola E.P.) is a state-owned airline and flag carrier of Angola. Based in Luanda, the airline operates domestic services within Angola, medium-haul services in Africa and long-haul services to Brazil, Cuba, and Portugal.[2] The airline was originally set up by the government as DTADivisão dos Transportes Aéreos in 1938, rechristened TAAG Angola Airlines in 1973, and gained flag carrier status in 1975. It is now a member of both the International Air Transport Association[3] and the African Airlines Association.[4]

History

DTADivisão dos Transportes Aéreos (1938–1973)

The origins of the carrier can be traced back to 1937, when the president of Portugal Óscar Carmona asked Joaquim de Almeida Baltazar to create an airline in Angola. In September 1938, DTADivisão dos Transportes Aéreos was formed as a division of the Administration of Railways, Harbours, and Air Transport of Portuguese West Africa. It was owned and run by the government, which authorised the acquisition of three Dragons and two Junkers Ju 52s, although the latter two aircraft were not delivered due to the outbreak of the Second World War. Operations began on 17 July 1940, using De Havilland Dragon Rapide biplanes. The first routes to be operated were founded by the Aero Club of Angola and included two main lines: one running between Luanda and Pointe Noire, having connections with Aeromaritime services to Europe, and the other being Luanda–Benguela–Lobito that was later extended to Moçâmedes. Flights were intermittently discontinued during World War II due to the scarcity of spare parts, but by the end of the war, the airline resumed operations. Two Stinson Reliants bought from the Belgian Congo in 1944 permitted the carrier to resume coastal services. The DC-3 and the Beechcraft Model 18 joined the fleet in 1946. In that year, a new route to Leopoldville was launched. The airline joined the International Air Transport Association in 1951. Also in that year, the company extended the Leopoldville route further east, serving Lourenço Marques, but this destination was later abandoned due to poor financial performance. DTA also operated a route linking Luanda with Lourenço Marques via Livingstone between 1951 and 1952; poor sales prompted the airline to terminate the service. A 700miles long route to São Tomé was launched in 1956.

By, the fleet was composed of four Beech 18s, seven DC-3s and three DH.89s. A year later, DTA became the third African airline in ordering the Fokker F-27, with two aircraft acquired. At this time, the company had a route network that was long. The F-27s were incorporated into the fleet in 1962. Served with these brand new aircraft, Windhoek was added to the route network that year.

TAAG Angola Airlines (1973–)

Following renaming to TAAGTransportes Aéreos de Angola on 1 October 1973, the airline was reorganised and reconstituted. The company shareholders at the time were the Angolan government (51%), TAP Air Portugal (29%) and ex-DTA employees (20%). Four Boeing 737-200s were ordered in 1974. The same year, a new livery including the Palança Negra was unveiled. Three F-27s and six DC-3s comprised the fleet by . Following the rise to power of the communists, that year the country gained independence from Portugal; the airline became Angola's flag carrier in . In, the company took delivery of the first Boeing 737-200. In, the delivery of two Boeing 737-200Cs was blocked by the US State Department; the embargo was lifted two months later following the end of the civil war in the country. Valued at around  million, these two aircraft were finally delivered by late that year. In the same year, an ex-Allegheny Airlines Fairchild FH-227 on delivery flight to Suidwes Lugdiens was forced to land at Luanda while flying over Angolan territory. The country seized control of the aircraft, which was later reported to be in service with TAAG, along with an ex-Argentine Air Force Caravelle and two ex-THY Turkish Airlines F-27s. Three Yak-40s entered the fleet in 1977, along with other Soviet-built aircraft; late this year, an ex-British Caledonian Airways Boeing 707-320C was sold to TAAG. In 1978, TAAG acquired two used F27s from Fokker, and another Boeing 737 was ordered a year later. A Lockheed L-100-20, registration D2-FAF, was involved in an accident while landing at São Tomé.

By, the carrier had a fleet of three Boeing 707-320Cs, three Boeing 737-200Cs, six Fokker F27s —four -600s and two -200s—, three L-100s —two -20s and one -30— and four Yakovlev Yak-40s to serve a number of domestic destinations, plus Brazzaville, São Tome, Lagos, Maputo, Lisbon, Moscow, Paris and Rome. The company was reorganised again during the year. On 8 June, a Yak-40 (registration D2-TYC) crashed near Matala killing all 19 occupants on board. On 16 May 1981, the crew of four on board a Lockheed L-100-20 Hercules, registration D2-EAS, lost their lives in an accident at Mongua. During the early 1980s, the fleet also included a small number of Antonov An-26s that started being phased out. One of these examples (D2-TAB) was involved in an accident at Monte Bibala on 29 November 1982; 15 people lost their lives. Another fatal accident took place almost a year later, on 8 November 1983, when the crash of a Boeing 737-200 (D2-TBN) at Lubango resulted in 130 fatalities. Serious financial difficulties were uncovered during 1984. In the mid-1980s, an L-100 Hercules was withdrawn from service and two Ilyushin Il-62Ms were acquired for operations to Cuba. The carrier phased in the first of these two aircraft in 1988. On 21 July 1988, a Boeing 707 freighter owned by the airline crashed away from Murtala Muhammed International Airport; crewmembers lost their lives in the accident.

At, TAAG Angola Airlines had TAAG-Air Charter and TAAG Aviacao Ligeira as associated companies; the number of employees was 5,770. At this time, the fleet consisted of Boeing 707-320s (-320B and -320Cs), Boeing 737-200s, Boeing 737-200C, Lockheed L100-200, Fokker F.27s (-100, -400M, -500 and -600s) and Yakovlev Yak-40s. The carrier network comprised domestic points in Angola served from Luanda plus international flights to Berlin-Schonefeld, Brazzaville, Havana, Kinshasa, Lisbon, Lusaka, Maputo, Moscow, Paris, Rio de Janeiro, Rome, Sal and Sao Tome. On 31 January 1995, a Boeing 727-200, registration D2-TJB, crashed on landing at Huambo; the landing gear was torn off following the aircraft aquaplaning off the runway as a result of a long landing. There were no serious injuries among the occupants of the aircraft. TAAG bought a Boeing 747-300 Combi from Singapore Airlines in 1997.

In, TAAG Angola Airlines ordered three Boeing 777-200ERs and four Boeing 737-700s, it also took options on one and two more of these aircraft, respectively. The ordered aircraft were initially scheduled for delivery in . The new aircraft were aimed at replacing the ageing Boeing 747-300s and Boeing 737-200s. The order was partially fulfilled in November 2006, when two Boeing 777-200ERs and three 737-700s were delivered. One of these Boeing 777-200ERs established a record-breaking distance for the delivery of the type, when it flew 12860km (7,990miles) between Seattle and Luanda in 16 hours and 47 minutes. In, the Boeing 747-300 fleet was retired from service. In the same year, the airline received its first newly acquired Boeing 777-300ER, out of two ordered in October 2009; TAAG became the first African carrier in purchasing and operating this type of aircraft. Three additional 293-seater Boeing 777-300ERs were ordered in, in a deal worth  million.

European Union ban (2007) and subsequent restructuring

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The European Union (EU), in its fourth update of the list of blacklisted airlines released in, banned TAAG aircraft from entering into European airspace because of safety concerns. At the same time, the United Kingdom barred TAAG from flying into its territory, just before the airline was about to start services to London-Gatwick; in retaliation, Angola banned British Airways from landing within the country's borders. The carrier announced it was losing  million a month owing to the ban. To continue operating flights to Europe, TAAG wet-leased a Boeing 747-400 from South African Airways (SAA). Following the EU ban, in November 2008 the entire TAAG board was replaced and a new board was appointed with the objective of turning the carrier round, and in particular getting it removed from the EU blacklist. At the time, according to the Transport Minister, Augusto da Silva Tomás, in 14 months the company lost about US$70 million (€55.6 million). The turn-round plan included staff reductions – before the action was taken, there were about 5,000 staff.[17] During 2008, TAAG launched a new route to Beijing.

It was announced in May 2009 that TAAG had passed IATA inspections. In, TAAG received permission to operate flights to Europe under restricted conditions, as it was allowed to fly only into Portugal and using only its three Boeing 777s. This partial lift of the ban made TAAG the only Angolan airline that was permitted to operate into the EU. After nearly two years of being banned from EU airspace, TAAG deployed its own aircraft on the European corridor immediately. TAAG then returned the Boeing 747-400 to South African Airways. In November 2009, the European Commission extended the permission to TAAG's four Boeing 737-700s. Also in November 2009, TAAG restarted services to Havana; many Cuban doctors and teachers reside in Angola and the flight exists to help transport them. In late March 2010, restrictions over TAAG operations were relaxed again following the announcement the airline could fly its Boeing 777-200ERs and 737-700s to all European airports.

In December 2010, two engine incidents involving TAAG's Boeing 777-200ERs forced the carrier to ground the three aircraft of the type.

In, the ban was partially lifted, but some aircraft were still prevented to fly the European Air Space.[18] An updated version of the list of airlines banned in the EU released in early still included part of TAAG's fleet; however, five Boeing 777s and four Boeing 737-700s were allowed to operate into the EU;[19] there were little or no changes in the list regarding the aircraft the airline was allowed to fly into the EU, following the release of the 11 latest versions of the list in,,,,,,,,,, and .

On 17 April 2019, the ban was completely lifted, allowing TAAG to fly all of its aircraft to any EU country.[20] [21]

Emirates management agreement, 2014–2017

In late, a ten-year management concession agreement between Emirates and the Government of Angola was signed; the deal also covered flight codesharing and the coordination of frequent flier programmes. In the first full year of operation under the agreement, annual losses were cut from $175m to $5m; the Ernst & Young-audited figures for January to December 2016 were approved at the airline's Board meeting on 9 March 2017.

The contract was unilaterally terminated by Emirates in 2017 after the Emirati carrier found difficulties in expatriating around  million in revenues from Angola.

Corporate affairs

Ownership, management and structure

Originally set up within a government department, TAAG Angola Airlines remains 100% owned by the government of Angola. TAAG is itself the sole owner of Angola Air Charter, also based in Luanda, that operates cargo charters in Africa.[22]

, Eduardo Fairen holds chief executive officer position. Vipula Gunatilleka holds the chief financial officer position, .

Business trends

Annual reports for the airline do not appear to be published. In the absence of these, the main sources for trends are press reports, and industry reports of the fleet size; even these are only indicative, because it is not always clear whether the aircraft recorded are actually in service. Available figures (for year ending 31 December) are:

20082009201020112012201320142015201620172018
Turnover (US$ m)585530 650700
Profit (US$ m)
Number of employees (at year end)4,1243,2813,5893,5593,2683,1123,064
Number of passengers (m) 1.1 0.81.11.31.31.21.41.5
Passenger load factor (%)57.049.05046
Number of aircraft (at year end)141111 12 12111413131313
Notes/sources[23] [24] [25] [26] [27] [28] [29]
[30]
[31] 		[32] [33]

Head office

TAAG has its corporate headquarters in Luanda, Angola.[34] [35] The airline also has offices in Africa, Asia, Europe, and North and South America,[36] and opened an office in Chaoyang District, Beijing, in 2010.

Destinations

See main article: List of TAAG Angola Airlines destinations., TAAG Angola Airlines serves 31 destinations, including 13 domestic, 11 in Africa, three in Latin America, two in Schengen Europe, and three in the Middle East and the Asia-Pacific region.

Codeshare agreements

TAAG Angola Airlines has codeshare agreements with the following airlines:[37]

Fleet

Current fleet

TAAG operates the following aircraft (as of December 2023):[39] [40]

TAAG Angola Airlines fleet
AircraftIn serviceOrdersPassengersNotes
FBETotal
Airbus A220-300 - 15TBADeliveries begin in 2024.
To replace Boeing 737-700.
Boeing 737-7007[41] - - 12108120[42] To be retired and replaced by Airbus A220-300.
Boeing 777-200ER3 - 1451170235[43]
Boeing 777-300ER5 - 1256225293[44]
Boeing 787-9 - 2TBA
Boeing 787-10 - 2TBA
De Havilland Dash 8-4006[45] - - 106474
TAAG Angola Airlines Cargo fleet
Boeing 737-700QC1 - Cargo
Boeing 737-800BCF1[46] - Cargo
Total2319

Historical fleet

The company previously operated the following aircraft:

In-flight service

TAAG Angola Airlines became OnAir first Sub-Saharan customer. The carrier plans to offer inflight connectivity on board the Boeing 777-300ER fleet starting .

First ClassFirst Class, branded as Diamond First Class, is available only on TAAG's Boeing 777 aircraft. First class features fully flat-bed seats with AVOD in-flight entertainment. Additionally, amenity kits, pillows, and blankets are given to first class passengers. Passengers also have designated check-in desks and have access to TAAG's Welwitchia Lounge in Luanda Airport.[48]
Business ClassBusiness Class, known as Executiva Class, is found on all TAAG aircraft. On the Boeing 777 fleet, the seats are angled lie-flat with AVOD in-flight entertainment in each seat. Amenity kits, pillows, and blankets are given to all Business Class passengers. Additionally, they are entitled to priority check-in and also have access to TAAG's Welwitchia Lounge in Luanda Airport.[48]
Economy Class

Branded as HighFly Economic Class, TAAG's long-haul economy class cabin is equipped with AVOD in-flight entertainment. The seats feature footrests and winged headrests for extra comfort. Pillows and blankets are given to all economy class passengers, and hot meals are served on all international flights.[48]

In-Flight EntertainmentAll TAAG long-haul aircraft are equipped with AVOD entertainment throughout all cabins. Known as Palanca, there are two variations throughout the Boeing 777 fleet. Rockwell Collins' dTES system is installed on the B777-200ERs, while the newer B777-300ERs possess the Thales TopSeries™ Audio Video On-demand System. The B737-700 fleet features drop-down LCD screens, used to show cabin-wide movies and a moving map display. Additionally, TAAG has an in-flight magazine and an in-flight entertainment guide, both known as austral.[49]

Accidents and incidents

Accidents involving fatalities

Incidents involving fatalities

Incidents involving no fatalities

Non-fatal hull-losses

See also

Bibliography

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: JO 7340.2J Contractions - Basic with Change 1 & Change 2. Federal Aviation Administration. 8 February 2020. 3-1-85, 3-2-26, 3-3-22. 3 June 2019.
  2. Web site: Angolan airline gives up flights to Dubai MACAU DAILY TIMES 澳門每日時報. macaudailytimes.com.mo. en-US. 2017-07-05.
  3. Web site: Current Airline Members. International Air Transport Association.
  4. Web site: Current Member. African Airlines Association.
  5. Web site: List of airlines banned within the EU. 12 October 2006. European Commission. https://web.archive.org/web/20070226130750/http://ec.europa.eu/transport/air-ban/pdf/list_en.pdf. 26 February 2007. dead.
  6. Web site: List of airlines banned within the EU. 5 March 2007. European Commission. https://web.archive.org/web/20070421034527/http://ec.europa.eu/transport/air-ban/pdf/list_en.pdf. 21 April 2007. dead.
  7. Web site: List of airlines banned within the EU. 4 July 2007. European Commission. https://web.archive.org/web/20070809100636/http://ec.europa.eu/transport/air-ban/pdf/list_en.pdf. 9 August 2007.
  8. Web site: List of airlines banned within the EU. 11 September 2007. European Commission. https://web.archive.org/web/20071127134151/http://ec.europa.eu/transport/air-ban/pdf/list_en.pdf. 27 November 2007.
  9. Web site: List of airlines banned within the EU. 28 November 2007. European Commission. https://web.archive.org/web/20080130015127/http://ec.europa.eu/transport/air-ban/pdf/list_en.pdf. 30 January 2008.
  10. Web site: List of airlines banned within the EU. 24 July 2008. European Commission. https://web.archive.org/web/20081112173018/http://ec.europa.eu/transport/air-ban/pdf/list_en.pdf. 12 November 2008.
  11. Web site: List of airlines banned within the EU. 14 November 2008. European Commission. https://web.archive.org/web/20090325010606/http://ec.europa.eu/transport/air-ban/pdf/list_en.pdf. 25 March 2009.
  13. Web site: List of air carriers of which all operations are subject to a ban within the community. 26 November 2009. European CommissionMobility & Transport. https://web.archive.org/web/20091227101609/http://ec.europa.eu/transport/air-ban/doc/list_en.pdf. 27 December 2009.
  14. Web site: List of air carriers of which all operations are subject to a ban within the community. 23 November 2010. European CommissionMobility & Transport. https://web.archive.org/web/20110122143741/http://ec.europa.eu/transport/air-ban/doc/list_en.pdf. 22 January 2011.
  15. Web site: List of air carriers of which all operations are subject to a ban within the community. 20 April 2011. European CommissionMobility & Transport. https://web.archive.org/web/20110902152827/http://ec.europa.eu/transport/air-ban/doc/list_en.pdf. 2 September 2011.
  16. Web site: List of air carriers of which all operations are subject to a ban within the community. 23 November 2010. European CommissionMobility & Transport. https://web.archive.org/web/20120124055215/http://ec.europa.eu/transport/air-ban/doc/list_en.pdf. 24 January 2012.
  17. News: Refundação da TAAG em fase conclusiva (Re-establishment of TAAG in final phase). O País (in Portuguese). 18 March 2013. 6 October 2013.
  18. Web site: List of air carriers of which all operations are subject to a ban within the EU. 3 April 2012. European CommissionMobility & Transport. https://web.archive.org/web/20120404114740/http://ec.europa.eu/transport/air-ban/doc/list_en.pdf. 4 April 2012. 21 April 2012. dead.
  19. Web site: List of airlines banned within the EU. European Commission. 4 December 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20121117224638/http://ec.europa.eu/transport/modes/air/safety/air-ban/doc/list_en.pdf. 17 November 2012. 5 December 2012. dead.
  20. Web site: 2019-04-18. TAAG and Heli Malongo removed from EU Air Safety List. 2020-11-23. ch-aviation.
  21. Bormans. Yves. 2019-04-16. Aviation: Commission updates the EU Air Safety List to maintain highest level of protection for passengers. 2020-11-23. European Commission. Brussels.
  22. News: TAAG Angola Airlines. AFRAA list of Current Members. 17 March 2016.
  23. News: TAAG's operating revenue up $120m in 2012 but lack of fiscal control remains a grave worry. Expansão. African Aviation Tribune. 15 January 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20140525142047/http://www.theafricanaviationtribune.com/2013/01/angola-taags-operating-revenue-up-120m.html. 25 May 2014. live.
  24. News: Report of the Secretary General to the 42nd Annual General Assembly - AFRAA. African Airlines Association. 2009.
  25. "http://www.aerotransport.org/php/go.php?query=operator&qstring=TAAG+Angola+Airlines&where=54817&luck=."Profile for: TAAG Angola Airlines". AeroTransport Data Bank. 9 January 2012. Retrieved 9 January 2012."
  26. News: TAAG Angola Airlines: Angola's take-off. Business Excellence. 1 August 2012.
  27. News: Annual Report 2013. African Airlines Association. 2013.
  28. News: Annual Report 2014. African Airlines Association. 2014.
  29. News: Air transportation public company envisages USD 100 million/year profit as of 2019. Agência Angola Press (Angola Press Agency). 4 September 2015.
  30. News: 2016 Annual Report. African Airlines Association. 2016.
  31. News: 2017 Annual Report. African Airlines Association. 2017.
  32. Web site: AFRAA Annual Report 2018. AFRAA. 2018.
  33. Web site: AFRAA Annual Report 2019. AFRAA. 2019.
  34. "TAAG Offices ." TAAG Angola Airlines. Retrieved on 14 October 2011. "Angola – Luanda Agência Sede Rua da Missão 123, P.O. Box 79 Luanda – República de Angola"
  35. "Directory: World Airlines." Flight International. 30 March-5 April 2004. 77. "Rua da Missao 123, PO Box 79, Luanda, CP 3010, Angola"
  36. "TAAG Offices ." TAAG Angola Airlines. Retrieved on 11 November 2012.
  37. Web site: Profile on TAAG. CAPA. Centre for Aviation. 31 October 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161031190339/http://centreforaviation.com/profiles/airlines/taag-dt . 31 October 2016. live.
  38. Web site: SAA enters into code-sharing agreement with TAAG Angola Airlines.
  39. Global Airline Guide 2019 (Part One). Airliner World. October 2019. 4.
  40. Web site: TAAG fleet. TAAG.
  41. News: SonAir formalises delivery of Boeings 737-700. Angola Press News Agency. 21 August 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200904020500/https://m.portalangop.co.ao/angola/en_us/noticias/transporte/2020/7/34/SonAir-formalises-delivery-Boeings-737-700,c93f4b30-434a-4170-a0e6-edabd58e1d9a.html. 4 September 2020.
  42. Web site: Boeing 737-700. TAAG Angola Airlines.
  43. Web site: Boeing 777-200ER. TAAG Angola Airlines.
  44. Web site: Boeing 777-300ER. TAAG Angola Airlines.
  45. Web site: . Angola: TAAG Receives Last Dash 8-400 Aircraft . 2 July 2022 . Angola Press Agency . 7 July 2022 . Luanda, Angola . via AllAfrica.com.
  46. Web site: TAAG Angola Airlines adds first B737-800(BCF). Ch-Aviation.
  47. Web site: TAAg Angola Airlines Fleet. ch-aviation GmbH. https://web.archive.org/web/20150813003140/http://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/aircraft/search?search=1&cha=DT. 13 August 2015 .
  48. Web site: TAAG's Official Website – TAAG: Class. TAAG Angola Airlines. 13 August 2011.
  49. Web site: TAAG's Official Website – TAAG: In Flight Service. TAAG Angola Airlines. 13 August 2011.
  50. Airline flight safety: 1982 reviewed – FATAL ACCIDENTS: NON-SCHEDULED PASSENGER FLIGHTS. Flight International. 22 January 1983. 205. 7 July 2011.
  51. Airline Safety Review – Fatal accidents: non-passenger flights. Flight International. 21–27 January 1998. 3840. 27 June 2011.
  52. News: Five killed, 66 hurt in Angolan airline crash-landing. Horacio. Cawaia. Reuters. News.com.au. 29 June 2007. https://web.archive.org/web/20090606001642/http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,21987911-401,00.html. 6 June 2009 .
  53. News: TAAG Angola 737 crashes on landing, five killed. Brian. Straus. Air Transport World. 29 June 2007. https://web.archive.org/web/20070629122237/http://atwonline.com/news/story.html?storyID=9389. 29 June 2007 .
  54. Flight safety: 1980 reviewed – FATAL ACCIDENTS: SCHEDULED PASSENGER SERVICES. Flight International. 24 January 1981. 228. 20 June 2011.
  55. Unita shots down TAAG 737. Flight International. 19 November 1983. 1336. pdf. 25 June 2011. Unita guerrillas claim that they shot down the TAAG Angolan Airlines Boeing 737 which crashed immediately after take-off from Lubango, Southern Angola, with the loss of all 126 people on board. Unita opposes Angola's Government, and claims that the flight, bound for Luanda, was carrying only military personnel. The incident took place on November 8..
  56. Safety update.... Flight International. 6 December 1980. 2082. pdf. 25 June 2011. A TAAG-Angolan Airlines Boeing 737 landed short of the runway at Benguela on November 5. The aircraft, D2-TAA, destroyed its landing gear and skidded 1,000m, breaking off one engine. The starboard wing was burned out and the fuselage side received fire damage. During the recovery operation on November 10 the aircraft caught fire and was totally destroyed. There were no injuries..
  57. AIRLINE SAFETY REVIEW – NON-FATAL ACCIDENTS/INCIDENTS: NON-PASSENGER FLIGHTS. Flight International. 27 January – 2 February 1993. 34. 8 July 2011.

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