Luanda – Angola’s Minister of Transport Ricardo de Abreu said on Sunday that the start of passenger flight operations at António Agostinho Neto International Airport (AIAA) marks a historic day for civil aviation in the country.
After witnessing the return to the capital of the inaugural flight and consequent 'baptism' of TAAG's Boeing 737-700 (registration D2 TBJ), which carried 191 passengers on the Luanda/Cabinda/Luanda route, the official highlighted the work and commitment of everyone involved, saying that everything went well in operational terms, with properly trained teams.
'The flights left and arrived on time, namely the first and second', he stressed, showing pride in the work provided in this new airport infrastructure and the festive atmosphere, with the safety protocol observed.
He informed that on December 10, commercial passenger flights will begin operating to the cities of Saurimo, in the province of Lunda-Sul, and Dundo (Lunda-Norte), both in the eastern region, and Soyo (Zaire), in the north, and the procedures to comply with the existing schedule are underway.
TAAG will incorporate these routes, during the month of December, into the flight schedule from the AIAAN and, progressively, in the first quarter of 2025, will complete the transfer of the other connections.
The day was marked with the movement, at the airport, of departure and arrival, to and from Cabinda, of the Boeing 737-700 of the national flag carrier, which took 92 passengers and returned with 99, including the governor of Cabinda, Suzana de Abreu, an act that 'symbolizes' the start of passenger flight operations at the AIAAN.
On the occasion, the minister offered, in a symbolic way, a gift (hat and shirt) to some passengers, a gesture that was followed by the airport staff, as well as inaugurated a store that offers commercial services, except cargo.
In addition to shops, the various service areas of this infrastructure have VIP rooms, restaurants, a clinic, first aid center, elevators, staff trained to provide special attention to people with reduced mobility, and parking for more than fifteen hundred vehicles.
Located in the urban district of Bom Jesus, municipality of Icolo e Bengo, 40 kilometers from the city center of Luanda, the new airport, inaugurated on November 10, 2023, has a capacity for more than 15 million international and domestic passengers, and about 130,000 tons of goods per year.
It includes two double runways and is prepared to receive various types of aircraft, with emphasis on the Airbus A380, considered the largest commercial aircraft today.
It also has 31 sleeves of which 19 are for international services and 11 are for domestic services, as well as conveyor belts for baggage storage, six of which are dedicated to international flights.
The check-in area has six islands for 94 counters, 32 for domestic service and 62 for international service.ML/VC/DOJ
