TAAG Angola Airlines

TAAG Angola Airlines (Portuguese: Linhas Aéreas de Angola), is the flag carrier of Angola. The airline is based in Luanda.^[3][4] It operates domestic services within Angola, as well as medium-haul services in Africa and long-haul services to Brazil, Cuba and Portugal. TAAG is an acronym for Transportes Aéreos Angolanos. The company is wholly owned by the Angolan government, and is the sole owner of Angola Air Charter.

History

The origins of the carrier trace back to September 1938, when DTA – Divisão dos Transportes Aéreos was formed as a division of the Administration of Railways, Harbours, and Air Transport of Portuguese West Africa.^[5][6][7] Operations began on 17 July 1940,^[6] using De Havilland Dragon Rapide biplanes.^[8] The first cities served from Luanda were Lobito, Moçâmedes, and Ponta Negra.^[5]

The DC-3 joined the fleet in 1948 and the Fokker F-27 did so in 1962.^[5] On 1 October 1973 the company changed its name to TAAG – Transportes Aéreos de Angola,^[9] despite it has been more commonly known as TAAG – Linhas Aéreas de Angola (English: TAAG – Angola Airlines) since then; services to São Tomé and Príncipe and Windhoek were launched also this year.^[5]

After independence from Portugal in 1975 the airline was named Angola's 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 Lockheed L-1011 TriStars in the 1990s, both leased from TAP Air Portugal.

TAAG began flights to six other African countries, as well as to Lisbon, Paris, Madrid, Rome and Moscow.

TAAG bought a Boeing 747-300 Combi from Singapore Airlines in 1997,^[10] aimed at operating long-haul routes. Flights to Havana, via Sal Island, were operated for many years to move Cuban advisors and military personnel, often on a fortnightly schedule. 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.

It was disclosed in 2005 that the airline ordered three Boeing 777-200ERs and four Boeing 737-700s with the intention of replacing the ageing Boeing 747-300s and Boeing 737-200s.^[11] The order was partially fulfilled in November 2006, when two Boeing 777-200ERs and three 737-700s were delivered.^[12] The new equipment was incorporated without phasing out the older ones. The 777-200ERs were immediately put on services to Lisbon, Johannesburg, and Paris. Because the 777s were originally unable to fly transatlantic flights due to ETOPS restrictions, TAAG was limited to Boeing 747-300 operations to Brazil.

In November 2008, the TAAG board was ousted and a new board was appointed in an effort to get the airline removed from the EU blacklist. On 29 May 2009, it was announced that TAAG had passed IATA inspections.^[13]

In October 2009, TAAG began Boeing 777 flights to Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo from Luanda after acquiring the necessary ETOPS certification.

On 29 April 2010, it was announced that TAAG had ordered two Boeing 777-300ERs with an option for two more.

In January 2011, there were concerns over inadequate maintenance on its aircraft once again, after a series of incidents involving the Boeing 777-200ER fleet.^[14][15] However, it was determined that the company was still complying with international safety requirements after a IATA inspection in Luanda.

European Union ban: 2007 – 2010

In June 2007, the European Union banned TAAG from entering its aircraft into European airspace over safety concerns, effective early July 2007.^[16][17] This left TAAG with two 777s sitting in Luanda, unable to fly to any of TAAG's long-haul destinations. TAAG hence initiated flights to Dubai and Beijing in order to increase aircraft usage and minimise losses. To continue operating flights to Europe, TAAG wet-leased a Boeing 747-400 from South African Airways (SAA).^[18][19] This aircraft was flown with a SAA flight crew and a mixture of TAAG's and SAA's cabin crew.

In July 2009, TAAG received permission to operate flights to Europe under restricted conditions, as it was allowed to fly only into Portugal, and could only use its three Boeing 777-200ERs to operate these flights.^[20][21] The permission was extended to its four Boeing 737-700s in late 2009.^[22] The maximum number of flights was set at ten per week. On 1 August 2009, TAAG's first flight departed from Luanda to Lisbon after nearly 2 years of being banned from EU airspace. TAAG then returned the Boeing 747–400 to South African Airways.

In late March 2010, restrictions over TAAG operations were relented again following the announcement the airline could fly their Boeing 777-200ERs and 737-700s to all European airports.^[23][24]

Destinations

Codeshare agreements

As of December 2011^[update], TAAG Angola Airlines has codeshare agreements with the following airlines:^[25][26]

Fleet

The TAAG active fleet comprises the following aircraft, as of December 2011^[update]:

In June 2011 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.^[31][32]

Retired fleet

The company previously operated the following equipment:^[28]

In-flight service

As of August 2011^[update], TAAG is ranked as a two-star airline by Skytrax, out of a five-star ranking.^[33]

First Class

First Class, branded as Diamond First Class, is only available 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.^[34]

Business Class

Business 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.^[34]

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.^[34]

In-Flight Entertainment

All 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.^[35]

Accidents and incidents

Accidents involving fatalities

• 29 November 1982: An Antonov 26, registration D2-TAB, that operated a non-scheduled passenger service, flew into mountainous terrain and crashed. All 15 occupants of the aircraft perished in the accident.^[36][37]
• 14 April 1997: A Fokker F-27-600, tail number D2-TFP, operating a Brazzaville–Luanda cargo service, rolled right following rotation from Maya-Maya Airport, fell onto the runway it took off from and skidded until it came to rest past the end of it, breaking in two and bursting into flames. There were three reported fatalities.^[38][39]:40
• 28 June 2007: a Boeing 737–200 crashed in northern Angola. Portuguese news agency Lusa said the aircraft had taken off from the Angolan capital, Luanda, and was trying to land at M'banza-Kongo in the province of Zaire, which is in northern Angola near the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo. At least five people were killed and 66 injured. Among those killed in the accident was the municipal administrator of M'banza-Kongo and a senior Roman Catholic priest from Italy.^[40] The airplane was carrying 78 passengers when it crashed at 1330 local time (12.30 GMT). The agency said control of the aircraft was lost upon landing and it crashed into a building, destroying it. The director of Aeroportos de Angola (the Angolan airport authority) told national radio the pilot had missed the runway for an unknown reason while attempting an emergency landing. According to aviation sources in Luanda, the aircraft apparently punctured two tires upon landing, causing one wing to dip and touch the runway. The aircraft then veered out of control and crashed into the building.^[41] Initial press reports indicated that the aircraft touched down about halfway along the runway while attempting to land at M'banza-Kongo.^[42][43]

Incidents involving fatalities

• 8 June 1980: A Yakovlev Yak-40K, registration D2-TYC, was shot down by a MiG-19 near Matala, Angola. There were 19 reported fatalities.^[44][45]
• 16 May 1981: A Lockheed L-100-20 Hercules, tail number D2-EAS, that was operating a freighter service, was shot down by a missile on approach to Menongue Airport. All four occupants of the aircraft perished in the incident.^[46]
• 8 November 1983: A Boeing 737-2M2, registration D2-TBN, crashed immediately after takeoff from Lubango Airport bound for Quatro de Fevereiro Airport; all 130 occupants of the aircraft —of whom 126 were passengers— died. UNITA guerrillas claimed to have shot down the airliner.^[47][48]

Incidents involving no fatalities

• 26 December 2002: A Boeing 737-2M2, registration D2-TDB, that had departed from Windhoek Hosea Kutako International Airport bound for Luanda operating Flight 572, was involved in a mid-air collision over Namibian airspace with a Cessna 404, registration V5-WAA, that took off from Windhoek Eros Airport. The collision occurred some 28 kilometres (17 mi) north of Hosea Kutako Airport. The Boeing sustained minor damages in one of its wings, but continued its flight to Luanda; the pilot of the Cessna —the only occupant of the light aircraft— managed to land it safely despite the damages it underwent in the incident. All occupants from both aircraft resulted unharmed.^[49][50]

Non-fatal hull-losses

• 15 May 1979: A Lockheed L-100-20 Hercules, registration D2-FAF, crashed on landing at São Tomé International Airport.^[51]
• 4 November 1980: A Boeing 737-2M2C, tail number D2-TAA, that landed short of the runway at Benguela Airport, slided some 900 m following the collapse of the gear; a fire broke out on the right wing but there were no reported fatalities. The aircraft caught fire during recovery operations on November 10, and was written off.^[52][53]
• 9 February 1984: A Boeing 737-2M2, registration D2-TBV, that departed from Albano Machado Airport operating a scheduled passenger service, suffered hydraulic problems following an explosion in the rear of the aircraft and returned to the airport of departure for an emergency landing. The plane touched down fast and overran the runway.^[54]
• 8 January 1988: A Yakovlev Yak-40K, tail number D2-TYD, ran off the runway upon landing at Quatro de Fevereiro Airport.^[55]
• 8 February 1988: A Boeing 707-349C, registration D2-TOI, had its hydraulic and control lines broken after it hit an antenna on approach to Quatro de Fevereiro Airport; the nosegear collapsed when it overran the runway.^[56]
• 20 February 1992: A Boeing 707-349C, tail number D2-TOJ, experienced a nosegear failure during taxiing at Quatro de Fevereiro Airport.^[57][58]

See also

• Transport in Angola

References

External links

Media related to [//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:TAAG_Angola_Airlines TAAG Angola Airlines] at Wikimedia Commons

• TAAG Angola Airlines frontpage
• TAAG Angola Airlines (Brazil Website)