Africa-Press – Angola. Angola Airlines (TAAG) will receive technical and strategic support from the German aviation and management consulting company (LUFTHANSA) for its restructuring and modernization, due to a contract signed between the Angolan Ministry of Transport and the aforementioned institution.
This information was made public on Wednesday, in Luanda, by the minister of Transport, Ricardo D’Abreu, on the sidelines of the signing of the aforementioned legal instrument, within the framework of the 72-hour visit that the President of the Federal Republic of Germany, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, is making to Angola.
Ricardo D’Abreu stressed that the agreement with Lufthansa Consulting “make official a strategic partnership with one of the leading European aviation groups” and aims to ensure that TAAG “becomes a leading flag carrier in Africa”.
“Lufthansa Consulting will support us on several fronts, from improving corporate governance, maintenance and engineering, to training, operations and defining new routes, aligned with the vision of a national air hub, with the opening of Dr. Antônio Agostinho Neto International Airport”, highlighted the minister.
According to the official, the partnership is already underway and represents a direct investment in the structural transformation of TAAG, which will be financed by its own shareholders.
“It is a service agreement with a financial component, the conditions of which are assured. The investment meets the appropriate standards and will allow us to have a restructured, efficient and competitive company in the Southern Africa region”, stated the minister.
He added that the relationship between Angola and Lufthansa “already existed for sometime”, but has now been formalized at the highest level, thus reinforcing technical and institutional cooperation.
“We are very well supported, with a partner that can contribute significantly to the transformation process of TAAG”, he said.
Currently, TAAG holds approximately 70% of the national international air transport market and 90% of domestic connections, figures which, according to the minister, “demonstrate the company’s responsibility and central role in the country’s air connectivity”.
Ricardo D’Abreu also stated that, with the increase in tourist and business traffic between Angola and Europe, especially Germany, with TAAG’s direct flights between Luanda and Frankfurt, growth in air traffic and greater dynamism in the sector are expected.
When questioned about the future privatization of TAAG, the minister reiterated that “it is not immediate,” but stressed that the goal is to prepare the company for the privatization process in excellent condition.
“We want to be ready to choose the right partners when the time comes. This agreement with Lufthansa is a step in that direction”, he expressed.
The agreement marks a new step in cooperation between the two countries in the field of civil aviation.
The document was signed by the Minister of Transport, Ricardo Viegas D’Abreu, and by the CEO of Lufthansa Consulting, Hannes Müller.
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