Luanda – Angola’s Dr António Agostinho Neto International Airport (AIAAN) located in the country’s capital, Luanda, received Tuesday the first commercial cargo flight from Lagos, Nigeria, following its inauguration in November.
The 737-800 Cargo aircraft operated by the Angolan airlines TAAG flew to Nigeria with 3,000 kilos of cargo and returned to Luanda with 10,000 kilos.
António Pombal, head of AIAAN temporary operations, said the flight represents a relevant and extremely important moment, since it sends a positive message of encouragement to the market regarding the use of the new airport.
"After its inauguration on November 10, AIAAN has come under a lot of scrutiny, with regular questions about its actual start-up. Now, the new airport is up and running and with good prospects of receiving more commercial cargo flights from foreign companies by the end of this month," Pombal said.
According to António Pombal, a significant increase in commercial cargo flights is expected next year for the new airport infrastructure to become a relevant hub for aviation in Africa.
Commercial flights operated by several airlines such multinational DHL, Ethiopian Airlines and Sinotrans, in partnership with Hull Blyth, are scheduled to land and take off by the end of December in the new airport.
The new airport infrastructure occupies an area of 1,324 hectares, with capacity to receive 15 million passengers and a cargo volume of 130,000 tons per year.
With two double runways, the airport is prepared to receive aircraft of the B747 and A380 type; the latter considered the largest commercial aircraft nowadays, among others.
The south runway (the largest), which is 4,000 meters and 60 meters wide, received in June 2022, the first TAAG’s experimental flight of a Boeing 777 aircraft.
The new Dr. António Agostinho Neto International Airport (AIAAN) is located in the urban district of Bom Jesus, in the country's capital, Luanda.QCB/AC/TED/AMP
