Africa-Press – Angola. The President of the Republic, João Lourenço, asked this Monday, in Luanda, Angola, for particular attention to the airline TAAG to make it more competitive, flying to the main world capitals and better serving the African continent.
“We have to be more ambitious”, said the Statesman, adding that the company cannot be content with traveling to a single Asian country, China, the American country, Brazil, and three European cities, in the Mediterranean.
João Lourenço, who was speaking at the inauguration ceremony of the new Secretary of State for the Civil Aviation, Maritime and Port sectors, Rui Paulo de Andrade Teles Carreira, also referred to the need to open new routes to better serve Africa.
For the Holder of Executive Power, “we must have the ambition to fly to some cities in the United States of America”, taking advantage of the improvement in friendship and cooperation ties and the doors that are opening.
He informed that the country is ordering new aircraft from Boeing, without neglecting the need to recover the current fleet, which is large, but with some means of reduction.
He said that together with the minister, the newly sworn-in Secretary of State has the responsibility to make TAAG better, praising the investment made over the last 48 years in the areas of human resources and equipment.
The newly appointed Rui Carreira expressed, in statements to the press, that he is highly motivated and will seek to be the faithful executor of the guidelines received and the main coadjutor of the minister of the sector.
The former Executive Administrator of TAAG promised to promote dialogue with the sectors under his responsibility to better serve the Nation.
Rui Paulo de Andrade Teles was appointed as Secretary of State for the Civil Aviation, Maritime and Port sectors replacing Vumpa de André Londa one day after the inauguration of the new Dr. António Agostinho Neto International Airport.
Built in the commune of Icolo and Bengo, Luanda province, the new airport infrastructure, valued at USD 2.8 billion, occupies an area of 1324 hectares and can accommodate a cargo volume of 130 thousand tons/year.
According to technical studies, it is the third largest airport in Africa in terms of passenger volume per year. The expected number is 15 million passengers per year, 10 million on international flights and five million on domestic flights.
With two parallel runways, the largest of which is four thousand meters by 60 meters wide, the airport is prepared to receive aircraft of the B747 and A380 types, the latter considered the largest commercial aircraft today.
The first phase of operation is reserved for cargo services, until February 2024, followed by domestic flight operations and only from June 2024 onwards, will be marked by the start of international flight operations.
The gradual opening occurs for reasons of safety, testing, certification and staff training, to assess actual demand, procedures that help minimize risks and ensure a smooth transition to full operation.
The Airport also has 31 boarding lanes, 19 of which are for international services and 11 for domestic services, as well as 9 conveyor belts for baggage storage, six of which are dedicated to international flights.
The infrastructure includes 26 branches of the Migration and Foreigners Service (SME), a parking lot for 1,710 vehicles, as well as space reserved for shops, in an area of 1,825 square meters.
It also has 22 VIP lounges, a clinic and a first aid center attached to the passenger terminal, in addition to contemplating the construction of an airport city from scratch, which will cover a total area of 75 km2.
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