Angolan state-owned airline TAAG has secured financing for next-generation aircraft, bolstering its capacity and quality as the country pushes its new airport hub, reports Ver Angola.
The US$297 million deal, approved by the US Export-Import Bank (EXIM), covers the acquisition of Boeing 787-10 aircraft and spare engines for TAAG. Purchase of the wide-body jets and General Electric (GE) Aerospace equipment will support some 1,400 jobs in South Carolina, Ohio and across the US supply chains for Boeing and GE, according to a statement by EXIM.
Boeing models currently account for around 60 percent of TAAG’s active fleet, which includes four 737s, four 777s and one 787-9, the slightly smaller predecessor of the Boeing 787-10.
Acquiring the new planes “represents a decisive moment for TAAG,” Clóvis Rosa, chairman of TAAG’s board, said in a company statement. “It’s not just about purchasing aircraft. It’s about redefining our operational, financial and commercial capabilities.”
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The deal also aligns with Angola’s broader goals of positioning the new US$3.8 billion Dr Antonio Agostinho International Airport in Luanda into a regional and international hub. The Chinese-built airport began cargo operations in February 2024, with passenger flights launching that November.
Last month, TAAG announced that it will fully transfer its commercial passenger services to the new airport by September. Designed to serve 15 million passengers and 130,000 metric tons of cargo annually, it is the largest airport built by a Chinese firm outside of China.
The improved capacity and modern facilities will be “a catalyst for a new cycle for air transport, integrated logistics and the positioning of Angola as a regional and intercontinental hub,” Ricardo Viegas D’Abreu, Angola’s transport minister, told audiences at the 2nd Transport and Logistics Forum earlier this month.
D’Abreu urged TAAG to accelerate its transformation, which the company says the new acquisition supports, marking “a milestone” in fleet modernisation, operational efficiency and financial sustainability. Next-generation aircraft, the statement emphasised, will position TAAG to open new routes, increase frequency on strategic routes and elevate the passenger experience.
