TAAG Air Angola
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TAAG Air Angola (Linhas Aéreas de Angola) is the national flag carrier of Angola. Based in Luanda, the airline has a large domestic network and flights to other parts of Africa, Europe and South America. Like South African Airways, TAAG has been one of the few profitable sub-Saharan African airlines. It is 100% state owned by the Angolan government and itself owns 100% of subsidiary Angola Air Charter.
History
The airline was originally formed in September 1938 as Direcção de Exploração dos Transportes Aereos, (DTA Angola Airlines) by the Portuguese government as a division of the Administration of Railways, Harbours and Air Transport. Operations started on 17 July 1940 using De Havilland Dragon Rapide biplanes. In 1940 the airline was renamed DTA Linhas Aereas de Angola. In November 1975, with the country's independence from Portugal, the airline was renamed TAAG - Linhas Aereas de Angola and was named Angola's national flag carrier. During the 1970s the airline acquired several Ilyushin Il-62 aircraft along with Boeing 707 long-haul jets and Boeing 737s arriving in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Fokker F-27s were introduced on domestic routes at this time.-->The Angolan government formed TAAG Air Angola for domestic operations. The airline relied on smaller jets, such as the Boeing 727 and Boeing 737s, for these local flights. It also used the larger, but older, Boeing 707s, as well as two examples of the Lockheed L-1011 Tristar in the 1990s.
During the late 1980s, political relationships between the United States and Angola deteriorated, and the government of Angola began to buy airliners from the Airbus company in retaliation. Eventually, the government sold the airline to private interests.
The new ownership internationalized TAAG and began flights to six other African countries, as well as to Lisbon, Paris, Rome and Moscow.
Angola's government has enjoyed a long, good relationship with the Cuban government. Seeking a connection with Latin American countries, the now private airline looked forward to starting flights to that Caribbean nation.
TAAG bought a Boeing 747 with this route in mind. When granted rights to fly to Cuba, TAAG gained the distinction of being the only African airline to fly to José Martí International Airport in Havana. The airline still uses the 747 on this route.
TAAG is planning to commence services to the USA, UAE and China when it receives its third Boeing 777-200ER in late 2006. The first of the two B777s will initially replace the existing fleet of Boeing 747-300 Combis on flights that link Luanda with Johannesburg, Lisbon, Paris and Rio de Janeiro. The third Boeing 777 will be used to launch flights to Houston, Texas, Dubai and Beijing.
TAAG Air Angola has been sporadically mentioned in connection with the disappearance of Ben Charles Padilla.
Services
TAAG operates the following services (at January 2005):
- Domestic scheduled destinations: Cabinda, Catumbela, Dundo, Huambo, Luanda, Lubango, Malanje, Menongue, Namibe, Ondjiva and Soyo.
- International scheduled destinations: Harare, Houston (beginning in 2006), Brazzaville ,Johannesburg, Kinshasa , London, Lusaka , Paris , Pointe Noire, Rio de Janeiro, São Tomé, Lisbon and Windhoek.
Fleet
The TAAG fleet consists of the following aircraft (at January 2005):- 4 Boeing 737-200 at present, four Boeing 737-700NG on order.
- 3 Boeing 747-300Combi
- 3 Boeing 777-200ER on order. These will replace the 747-300 Combis.
- 1 Fokker F27 Mk600
- 1 Ilyushin Il-62M
External links
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