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TAAG Angola Airlines
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| TAAG Angola Airlines TAAG Linhas Aéreas de Angola |
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|---|---|---|
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| IATA DT |
ICAO DTA |
Callsign DTA |
| Founded | 1938 (as DTA) | |
| Hubs | Quatro de Fevereiro Airport | |
| Frequent flyer program | N/A | |
| Fleet size | 9 | |
| Destinations | 19 | |
| Headquarters | Luanda | |
| Key people | Chairman Eng. Mateus Neto | |
| Website: N/A | ||
TAAG Angola Airlines (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 and one of the few to recently purchase new-build aircraft as opposed to second-hand aircraft. It is 100% state owned by the Angolan government and itself owns 100% of subsidiary Angola Air Charter.
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The airline was originally formed in September 1938 as DTA - Divisão dos Transportes Aéreos, by the Portuguese Colonial 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 Aéreas de Angola. In February 1974, the airline was renamed TAAG - Linhas Aéreas de Angola.
In 1975 after independence from Portugal the airline 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 soviet made airliners 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. However it seems that this route no longer exists.
TAAG had planned 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 Dubai and Beijing.
TAAG Air Angola has been sporadically mentioned in connection with the disappearance of Ben Charles Padilla and N844AA.
On June 28, 2007, it was announced that the EU is banning TAAG from flying within the EU over safety concerns, effecting July 4. [1]
TAAG has sold both 777 to euroAtlantic Airways.
On June 28, 2007, it was reported that a TAAG 737 had crashed in northern Angola.
News agency Lusa said the Boeing 737 had taken off from the Angolan capital, Luanda, and was trying to land in M'banza Congo in the province of Zaire, which is in northern Angola near the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo.
It is understood at least 5 people have been killed and 66 injured. Among those killed in the accident is the municipal administrator of M'banza Congo and a senior Roman Catholic priest from Italy. The priest was named as George Vilanelo.
The airplane was carrying 78 passengers and crashed at 13.30 local time (12.30 GMT).
The agency said the plane lost control upon landing and crashed into a building, destroying it. The director of the Angolan airport authority, Aeroportos de Angola, Celso Rosas told national radio the pilot had missed the runway for an unknown reason, while attempting an emergency landing. It said a number of severely injured passengers were taken to hospital for treatment.
According to aviation sources in Luanda, the aircraft apparently punctured two tyres upon landing, causing one wing to dip and touch the runway. The plane then veered out of control and crashed into the building, they said.[2]
Initial press reports indicated that the airplane touched down about half way down the runway while attempting to land at M'Banza Congo.[3]
The cause of the accident is under investigation. However, the impact on the airline was substantial, as it was put on the List of air carriers banned in the EU and had to relenquish its brand new 777 aircraft.
The TAAG fleet includes the following aircraft (at June 2007) [4] :
| Aircraft | Total | Passengers (Business/Economy) |
Routes | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boeing 737-200ADVANCED | 3 | 130 (12/118) | Short haul and regional routes | |
| Boeing 737-700 | 4 | 130 | Short haul and regional routes | |
| Boeing 777-200ER | 0 (1 in order) |
305 (30/275) | Long haul Portugal |
One to be delivered in October 2007. TAAG had two 777s (D2-TED and D2-TEE) but both were Dry Leased to euroAtlantic Airways due to the European Union ban. |
| Boeing 747-300 Combi | 2 | Long haul France, Brazil and South Africa |
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| Total number of aircraft | 11 (1 on order) |
Updated: March 2007 |
It is also in negotiation for a Boeing 777-300ER. [5]
- Taag (UK WebSite)
- Taag (Brasil WebSite)
- Taag Old Site
- TAAG Angola Airlines at ATDB: profile, history and events, contacts and management, historical/current/planned aircraft in fleets
- ^ EU bans TAAG Angola's fleet
- ^ TAAG crash at news.com.au
- ^ TAAG crash att Aviation Safety Network
- ^ Flight International, 3-9 October 2006
- ^ Boeing delivers five new aircraft to TAAG
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