Africa-Press – Angola. Air service between Luanda and Abidjan will begin in March 2026 to meet the demand for air traffic between Angola and Côte d’Ivoire.
This was announced on Sunday in Abidjan by the Angolan ambassador to Côte d’Ivoire, Oliveira Encoge.
In statements to the press, the diplomat said that the implementation of direct flights by the Angolan airline (TAAG) between Luanda and Abidjan will represent a significant advance in relations between the two states.
Oliveira Encoge hopes that this initiative will contribute to increasing the number of Angolan community members in Côte d’Ivoire and, above all, to the continuous strengthening of bilateral cooperation relations.
According to the diplomat, the two countries currently enjoy a level of relationship that transcends mere interaction between states, characterized by a strong bond of brotherhood.”This reality deeply satisfies us. However, both sides are committed to further deepening this relationship, especially between the two peoples,” he expressed.
According to the source, “this has been our main concern and the agenda that guides our daily actions.”
The connection between Luanda and Abidjan foresees an annual frequency of 312 flights, with an average fare of 179 dollars and an estimated occupancy rate of 48%.
Projected annual revenues are around 4.06 million dollars, from passenger and air cargo transport.Despite the operational challenges, the opportunities are evident.
Abidjan stands out as the main economic and financial center of Francophone West Africa, with a privileged geostrategic position for indirect links to Southern Africa and Brazil.
Additionally, the development of the cargo component and the maximization of ancillary revenues could strengthen the economic viability of the operation in the medium term.
To this end, Angola and Côte d’Ivoire recently signed a bilateral agreement in the field of air services, reinforcing their mutual commitment to the liberalization of air transport on the continent.
This initiative is part of the implementation of the Single African Air Transport Market (SAU) and aims to promote a more integrated, modern and competitive aviation sector in Africa.These advances result from recent state visits, such as that of Angolan President João Lourenço to Abidjan in June 2024, where 14 legal instruments were signed.
The agreement was formalized in Luanda by the Angolan Minister of Transport, Ricardo Viegas D’Abreu, and the Ivorian Minister of Commerce, Souleymane Diarrassouba.
The text of the agreement establishes an open skies regime with fifth freedom, exemption from tariff restrictions, and the promotion of technical and operational cooperation between the aeronautical authorities of the two countries, including the mutual recognition of ramp inspections.
Relations between Angola and Côte d’Ivoire are strong, with a history of cooperation that has recently been boosted by bilateral agreements in areas such as economy, culture, agriculture, energy, food security, and aviation.
For More News And Analysis About Angola Follow Africa-Press
