TAAG Angola Airlines is entering a defining period of transformation as it consolidates operations at the new Dr António Agostinho Neto International Airport, accelerates its fleet renewal programme, expands its network across Africa and beyond, and strengthens the commercial foundations of its long-term hub strategy. Speaking to African Pilot on the sidelines of the 57th AFRAA Annual General Assembly in Luanda, TAAG’s Chief Commercial Officer, Miguel Carneiro, outlined a detailed and optimistic roadmap for 2026 and the years ahead.
A New Hub Driving a New Phase of Growth
Carneiro describes the last two years as foundational. Since the inauguration of Luanda’s new international airport in November 2023, TAAG has followed a phased activation process starting with cargo, then domestic services, and finally regional and intercontinental operations. The airline has now fully transitioned to the new facility, where global carriers including Emirates and Air France have also begun to operate.
The new airport offers capacity for 15 million passengers annually and a dedicated 130,000-ton cargo terminal, which Carneiro says positions TAAG to grow its available seat kilometres and its international footprint. He emphasises that Angola’s geographic location allows Luanda to connect within a three-hour radius to an estimated 1.4 billion people across the African continent, making it the centrepiece of TAAG’s hub and spoke strategy.
Expanding the African Network
TAAG is already an active regional operator and continues to build depth and frequency across the continent. The airline currently serves South Africa, Mozambique, Namibia, São Tomé, both Congos, Nigeria, Kenya, and has strong growth plans for West and East Africa.
New routes to Abidjan and Accra are expected within the next three to four months, while Lusaka and Harare are firmly in the 2026 pipeline. Carneiro notes that both Zambia and Zimbabwe have offered substantial incentives to support the launch of new services, alongside encouraging discussions with Conakry and other markets.
Increasing frequency on existing routes remains equally important. TAAG already operates 10 flights a week to Cape Town and nine to Johannesburg, and aims to move key markets such as Maputo and Lagos to daily, and eventually double-daily, service.
Rebuilding and Modernising the Fleet
A cornerstone of TAAG’s strategy is its ongoing fleet renewal programme initiated during the COVID-19 period. The airline secured four white-tail Boeing 787-8 aircraft and committed to 15 Airbus A220s through lessors. Delivery of the A220s is progressing, with aircraft number four scheduled to arrive imminently. All four 787s have now joined the fleet, providing the long-haul efficiency needed for TAAG’s intercontinental ambitions.
By the end of next year, TAAG expects to operate a 25-aircraft fleet, growing to 50 by 2030 with a mix of narrow-body and wide-body aircraft. Carneiro confirms that TAAG is in active discussions with Boeing regarding future wide-body requirements.
The 787s are already serving Guarulhos in Brazil four times weekly, with potential for daily service. They will soon replace the current 777s on the Lisbon route. Studies are underway for new long-haul services, including London, Paris and an upgrade of Porto from seasonal to scheduled in 2026.
Ultra-long-haul expansion features prominently in the strategy, with Guangzhou under evaluation as a direct 14-hour link between Angola and China to support both passenger and e-commerce demand. TAAG also plans to launch services to the United States, positioning Luanda as a key bridge between sub-Saharan Africa and North America.
Managing Africa’s Operating Environment
Carneiro acknowledges the well-known structural challenges facing African airlines, including high taxes, charges and other cost burdens. TAAG’s approach is to focus growth in markets that are already competitive and ready to expand, while maintaining constructive engagement with countries that require more time to reform.
He highlights positive examples such as Zambia, Zimbabwe and Conakry, which have proactively discussed exemptions, variable fees and shared-risk models to attract new operators. Across southern and eastern Africa, he notes growing collaboration with airport authorities, civil aviation bodies, and carriers such as South African Airways, Airlink, FlySafair and Kenya Airways, underscoring a shift from dialogue to practical deliverables.
Strong Demand and Digital Transformation
The airline is entering the festive season on a strong footing. Carneiro reports a record-breaking Black Friday, with more than 29,000 tickets sold in a single day. TAAG’s digital and web-based sales channels outperformed all others this year, marking a significant shift in customer behaviour and signalling Africa’s readiness for digital airline retailing.
With travel demand across north-south and east-west flows expected to remain high, TAAG anticipates a very busy Christmas period supported by the new airport infrastructure and the arrival of new aircraft.
Maintenance Strategy and the Future of TAAG’s MRO Capability
TAAG is still completing the construction of new hangars at the airport, where it currently performs light maintenance. Scheduled checks are still carried out at the old airport using existing facilities, supplemented by strong regional partnerships including South Africa and Ethiopia.
Carneiro also highlights support from OEMs such as Airbus, Boeing, Pratt & Whitney, GE and CFM, along with service agreements with Lufthansa Technik and Air France-KLM for engine support.
Looking ahead, TAAG plans to establish a standalone MRO capability within Angola, independent of the airline’s internal structure but leveraging the new airport’s significant space and infrastructure. Carneiro describes this as a logical next step as the fleet grows.
Sustainability: A Phased and Realistic Approach
While sustainable aviation fuel remains out of reach for African operators due to the required investment and lack of supply infrastructure, TAAG is taking practical steps toward a broader sustainability strategy. This includes modernising the fleet with fuel-efficient aircraft and developing an internal sustainability plan.
TAAG aims to publish its first sustainability report by the end of 2026, which Carneiro sees as a strategic blueprint for long-term environmental management.
