TAAG Angola Delays Shift of International Flights

TAAG Angola Airlines has postponed the planned transfer of all its international flights from Luanda’s 4 De Fevereiro Airport to the new Dr. António Agostinho Neto International Airport (AIAAN). Originally scheduled for September 15, 2025, the move was delayed due to what the carrier described as “ongoing optimisation of operational conditions” necessary for the full transition.

In a statement, the state-owned airline said it would announce a revised date once agreed with transport authorities and other stakeholders. The new airport, located about 40 kilometers southeast of Luanda, opened in November 2023 but has faced delays in certifying ground handling and other key services required for large-scale international operations.

TAAG had initially told stakeholders that all long-haul flights—including routes to Lisbon, São Paulo, Johannesburg, Cape Town, Lagos, Windhoek, Maputo and São Tomé—would move to AIAAN this September under an executive decree from President João Lourenço. The airline began a phased transfer in November 2024, already operating domestic services and regional flights to Kinshasa and Brazzaville from the new facility.

Built by a Chinese contractor at an estimated cost of USD3.8 billion, AIAAN features two parallel runways and is designed to handle 15 million passengers annually, with expansion plans for up to 65 million. Angola’s government hopes to position the airport as a major regional hub to drive trade and tourism and diversify the economy beyond oil. The delayed transition underscores the logistical and regulatory challenges of fully activating Africa’s newest large-scale aviation hub.

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Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, ch-aviation.com