TAAG Angola Airlines facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
TAAG Angola Airlines
TAAG Linhas Aéreas de Angola

Founded	September 1938 (1938-09) (as DTA, Divisão dos Transportes Aéreos)
Commenced operations	17 July 1940 (1940-07-17)
Hubs	Quatro de Fevereiro Airport
Subsidiaries	Angola Air Charter (100%)
Fleet size	21
Destinations	31
Parent company	Government of Angola (100%)
Headquarters	Luanda, Angola
Key people	Eduardo Fairen (CEO) Vipula Gunatilleka (CFO)
Profit	US$−5 million (FY 2016)
Employees	3,268

TAAG Angola Airlines E.P. (Portuguese: TAAG Linhas Aéreas de Angola E.P.) is an airline owned by the government of Angola. It is the main airline of Angola, often called its flag carrier. The airline is based in Luanda, the capital city of Angola.

TAAG flies to many places. It offers flights within Angola, shorter flights across Africa, and longer flights to countries like Brazil, Cuba, and Portugal. The airline started in 1938 as DTA—Divisão dos Transportes Aéreos. It changed its name to TAAG Angola Airlines in 1973. In 1975, it became Angola's official flag carrier. Today, it is part of important airline groups like the International Air Transport Association.

Discover the History of TAAG Angola Airlines

Early Days: DTA—Divisão dos Transportes Aéreos (1938–1973)

A DTA Fokker F-27-200 at Benguela Airport in 1965

The idea for this airline began in 1937. The president of Portugal, Óscar Carmona, asked someone to create an airline in Portuguese Angola. So, in September 1938, DTA—Divisão dos Transportes Aéreos was formed. It was part of the government's transport department.

The government bought three Dragon planes. They also planned to buy two Junkers Ju 52s, but World War II stopped that. Flights officially started on July 17, 1940. They used De Havilland Dragon Rapide biplanes.

The first routes connected Luanda to Pointe Noire and Luanda to Benguela and Lobito. Later, the Benguela route went all the way to Moçâmedes. Flights sometimes stopped during World War II because spare parts were hard to find. After the war, the airline started flying again.

In 1944, DTA bought two Stinson Reliant planes. These helped them restart flights along the coast. In 1946, DC-3 and Beechcraft Model 18 planes joined the fleet. A new route to Leopoldville began in March 1946. DTA became a member of the International Air Transport Association in 1951.

The Leopoldville route was extended to Lourenço Marques that same year. However, this route was later stopped because it did not make enough money. DTA also tried a route from Luanda to Lourenço Marques through Livingstone from 1951 to 1952, but it also ended due to low sales. In 1956, a 700-mile route to São Tomé was launched.

By April 1960, the airline had four Beech 18s, seven DC-3s, and three DH.89s. A year later, DTA was one of the first African airlines to order the Fokker F-27. They bought two of these planes. At this time, their flight network was 3,300 miles long. The F-27s joined the fleet in 1962. With these new planes, flights to Windhoek were added that year.

TAAG Angola Airlines: A New Era (1973–Present)

A TAAG Angola Airlines Boeing 707-320C at Lisbon Portela Airport in 1991

On October 1, 1973, the airline changed its name to TAAG—Transportes Aéreos de Angola. It was also reorganized. At that time, the Angolan government owned 51% of the company. TAP Air Portugal owned 29%, and former DTA employees owned 20%.

In 1974, TAAG ordered four Boeing 737-200s. A new look for the planes, featuring the Palança Negra, was also introduced. By March 1975, the fleet had three F-27s and six DC-3s. Angola became independent from Portugal in October 1975. TAAG then became the country's official flag carrier.

In November 1975, TAAG received its first Boeing 737-200. In January 1976, the US State Department stopped the delivery of two Boeing 737-200Cs. This ban was lifted two months later after the civil war ended. These two planes, worth about US$18 million, were delivered by late April 1976.

In February 1976, an airplane on its way to another airline was forced to land in Luanda. Angola took control of this plane. It was later used by TAAG, along with other planes from different airlines. In 1977, three Yak-40s and other Soviet-built planes joined the fleet. A Boeing 707-320C was also sold to TAAG. In 1978, TAAG bought two used F27s from Fokker. Another Boeing 737 was ordered in 1979.

A Portugal-registered Lockheed L-1011-500 wearing the TAAG Angola Airlines livery at Faro Airport in 1995

By March 1980, TAAG had a fleet of Boeing 707s, Boeing 737s, Fokker F27s, Lockheed L-100s, and Yakovlev Yak-40s. They flew to many places in Angola and to international cities like Brazzaville, São Tome, Lagos, Maputo, Lisbon, Moscow, Paris, and Rome. The company was reorganized again that year.

Some accidents happened during this time. On June 8, 1980, a Yak-40 crashed near Matala, killing 19 people. On May 16, 1981, four crew members died in a Lockheed L-100-20 Hercules accident at Mongua. In the early 1980s, some Antonov An-26 planes were removed from service. One of these crashed on November 29, 1982, killing 15 people. Another serious accident happened on November 8, 1983. A Boeing 737-200 crashed at Lubango, resulting in 130 deaths.

In 1984, the airline faced serious money problems. In the mid-1980s, an L-100 Hercules was taken out of service. Two Ilyushin Il-62Ms were bought for flights to Cuba. The first of these planes started flying in 1988. On July 21, 1988, a Boeing 707 cargo plane crashed near Murtala Muhammed International Airport. Six crew members died.

A now-retired TAAG Angola Airlines Boeing 747-300M at Charles de Gaulle Airport in 2005

By March 1990, TAAG Angola Airlines had two related companies: TAAG-Air Charter and TAAG Aviacao Ligeira. They had 5,770 employees. The fleet included Boeing 707s, Boeing 737s, Lockheed L100-200, Fokker F.27s, and Yakovlev Yak-40s. The airline flew to 18 places in Angola and international cities like Berlin-Schonefeld, Havana, Kinshasa, Lisbon, Lusaka, Maputo, Moscow, Paris, Rio de Janeiro, Rome, Sal, and Sao Tome.

On January 31, 1995, a Boeing 727-200 crashed while landing at Huambo. The landing gear broke off because the plane slid off the wet runway. No one was seriously hurt. In 1997, TAAG bought a Boeing 747-300 Combi from Singapore Airlines.

In July 2005, TAAG Angola Airlines ordered three Boeing 777-200ERs and four Boeing 737-700s. These new planes were meant to replace older Boeing 747-300s and Boeing 737-200s. Some of these planes were delivered in November 2006. One Boeing 777-200ER flew a record-breaking distance for its delivery. It flew 12,860 kilometers from Seattle to Luanda in 16 hours and 47 minutes.

In March 2011, the Boeing 747-300 fleet was retired. In June 2011, the airline received its first new Boeing 777-300ER. TAAG was the first African airline to buy and use this type of plane. Three more Boeing 777-300ERs were ordered in April 2012. This deal was worth US$895 million.

European Union Ban and Changes (2007–2019)

In July 2007, the European Union (EU) banned TAAG planes from flying into Europe. This was due to safety concerns. At the same time, the United Kingdom also stopped TAAG from flying to London. In response, Angola banned British Airways from landing in Angola.

TAAG said it was losing US$5 million every month because of the ban. To keep flying to Europe, TAAG had to rent a Boeing 747-400 from South African Airways. In November 2008, the entire board of TAAG was changed. A new board was put in place to fix the airline and get it off the EU blacklist. The Transport Minister said the company had lost about US$70 million in 14 months. The plan to fix the airline included reducing staff. In 2008, TAAG also started a new route to Beijing.

D2-TEE was one of the three Boeing 777s that TAAG Angola Airlines was allowed to use to relaunch operations to Europe following the partial lift of the EU ban on the airline in July 2009. The aircraft is seen here at Lisbon Portela Airport in May 2007.

In May 2009, it was announced that TAAG had passed important safety checks. In July 2009, TAAG was allowed to fly to Europe again, but with rules. It could only fly to Portugal and only use its three Boeing 777s. This made TAAG the only Angolan airline allowed to fly into the EU. TAAG quickly started using its own planes for European flights again. They returned the rented Boeing 747-400 to South African Airways.

In November 2009, the European Commission also allowed TAAG's four Boeing 737-700s to fly to Europe. Also in November 2009, TAAG restarted flights to Havana. Many Cuban doctors and teachers live in Angola, and this flight helps them travel. In late March 2010, the rules for TAAG flights were relaxed even more. The airline could then fly its Boeing 777-200ERs and 737-700s to all European airports.

In December 2010, two engine problems with TAAG's Boeing 777-200ERs forced the airline to ground all three of those planes. In April 2012, the ban was partly lifted, but some planes were still not allowed in European airspace. Later updates to the EU banned airlines list still included part of TAAG's fleet. However, five Boeing 777s and four Boeing 737-700s were allowed to fly into the EU. This situation continued through several updates of the list until 2018.

Finally, on April 17, 2019, the ban was completely lifted. This meant TAAG could fly all of its planes to any EU country.

Emirates Management Agreement (2014–2017)

In late September 2014, a ten-year agreement was signed between Emirates and the Government of Angola. Emirates would help manage TAAG. This deal also included sharing flights and frequent flyer programs. In the first full year of this agreement, TAAG's annual losses dropped from $175 million to $5 million.

However, Emirates ended the contract in 2017. They had trouble getting about US$340 million in money out of Angola.

How TAAG Angola Airlines Works

Ownership and Management

TAAG Angola Airlines is 100% owned by the government of Angola. It started as a government department. TAAG also fully owns Angola Air Charter, which flies cargo planes in Africa.

As of October 2023, Eduardo Fairen is the chief executive officer (CEO). Vipula Gunatilleka is the chief financial officer (CFO) as of August 2017.

Business Trends

TAAG Angola Airlines does not usually publish yearly reports. So, information about its business comes from news reports and industry updates on its fleet size. These numbers might not always be exact.

Head Office and Locations

TAAG's main office is in Luanda, Angola. The airline also has offices in Africa, Asia, Europe, and North and South America. In 2010, they opened an office in Beijing, China.

Where TAAG Angola Airlines Flies

As of October 2014, TAAG Angola Airlines flies to 31 places. This includes 13 cities within Angola. They also fly to 11 cities in Africa, three in Latin America, two in Europe, and three in the Middle East and Asia-Pacific region.

Partner Airlines

TAAG Angola Airlines works with other airlines through "codeshare agreements." This means they sell tickets on each other's flights. Here are some of their partners:

TAAG Angola Airlines Fleet

Current Aircraft

A Boeing 777-300ER taking off from Lisbon Portela Airport (2012)

A TAAG Boeing 737-700 (2007)

As of December 2023, TAAG uses the following types of planes:

Past Aircraft

TAAG has used many different types of planes over the years. Here are some of them:

What to Expect on a TAAG Flight

TAAG Angola Airlines was the first airline in Sub-Saharan Africa to offer internet on board. They planned to offer Wi-Fi on their Boeing 777-300ER planes starting in May 2014.

First Class: Diamond First Class

First Class, called Diamond First Class, is only on TAAG's Boeing 777 planes. These seats can turn into fully flat beds. They also have entertainment systems where you can choose what to watch. First class passengers get special kits, pillows, and blankets. They also have their own check-in desks and can use TAAG's Welwitchia Lounge at Luanda Airport.

Business Class: Executiva Class

Business Class, called Executiva Class, is on all TAAG planes. On the Boeing 777s, the seats recline quite a bit and have entertainment screens. Business Class passengers also receive amenity kits, pillows, and blankets. They get priority check-in and can use the Welwitchia Lounge at Luanda Airport.

Economy Class: HighFly Economic Class

Economy Class, called HighFly Economic Class, is for long-haul flights. These cabins have entertainment systems where you can choose what to watch. The seats have footrests and winged headrests for comfort. All economy passengers get pillows and blankets. Hot meals are served on all international flights.

In-Flight Entertainment

All TAAG long-haul planes have entertainment systems in every seat. This system is called Palanca. There are two types on the Boeing 777 fleet. The Boeing 777-200ERs have one system, and the newer Boeing 777-300ERs have another. The Boeing 737-700 planes have screens that drop down from the ceiling. These show movies and a moving map. TAAG also has an in-flight magazine and an entertainment guide, both called austral.

Accidents and Incidents

Aviation safety is very important. Airlines work hard to prevent accidents. Here are some past events involving TAAG Angola Airlines.

Accidents with Fatalities

• November 29, 1982: An Antonov 26 plane crashed into a mountain. All 15 people on board died.
• April 14, 1997: A Fokker F-27-600 cargo plane crashed after taking off from Maya-Maya Airport. It broke in two and caught fire. Three people died.
• June 28, 2007: A Boeing 737-200 crashed in northern Angola. It was trying to land at M'banza-Kongo. At least five people died and 66 were hurt. The plane lost control and crashed into a building.

Incidents with Fatalities

• June 8, 1980: A Yakovlev Yak-40K plane was shot down near Matala. 19 people died.
• May 16, 1981: A Lockheed L-100-20 Hercules cargo plane was shot down by a missile near Menongue Airport. All four people on board died.
• November 8, 1983: A Boeing 737-2M2 plane, crashed right after taking off from Lubango Airport. All 130 people on board died.

Incidents with No Fatalities

D2-TBD, a TAAG Angola Airlines Boeing 737-200 Advanced, was involved in a mid-air collision with another aeroplane over Namibia on 26 December 2002. The aircraft is seen here at Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport in 1986.

• December 26, 2002: A Boeing 737-2M2 plane, flying from Windhoek Hosea Kutako International Airport, was involved in a mid-air collision over Namibia with a small Cessna 404 plane. The Boeing had minor damage but continued its flight. The pilot of the Cessna managed to land safely. Everyone on both planes survived without harm.

Non-Fatal Plane Damage (Hull-Losses)

• May 15, 1979: A Lockheed L-100-20 Hercules crashed while landing at São Tomé International Airport.
• November 4, 1980: A Boeing 737-2M2C landed too short of the runway at Benguela Airport. It slid about 900 meters and the landing gear broke. A fire started on the right wing, but no one died. The plane caught fire again during recovery and was too damaged to be used.
• February 9, 1984: A Boeing 737-2M2 had hydraulic problems after an explosion in the back of the plane. It returned for an emergency landing but went off the runway.
• January 8, 1988: A Yakovlev Yak-40K went off the runway while landing at Quatro de Fevereiro Airport.
• February 8, 1988: A Boeing 707-349C hit an antenna while approaching Quatro de Fevereiro Airport. Its hydraulic and control lines broke. The nose gear collapsed when it went off the runway.
• February 20, 1992: A Boeing 707-349C had a problem with its nose gear while moving on the ground at Quatro de Fevereiro Airport.

See also

In Spanish: TAAG Angola Airlines para niños

• Airlines of Africa
• Transport in Angola