TAAG Angola Airlines will increase its schedule between Angola and Brazil from Wednesday, August 2. The airline is offering its customers enhanced connectivity and greater mobility between the two Lusophony countries.
The carrier is increasing its schedule on the Luanda-Sao Paulo-Luanda route to six weekly frequencies. Following the airline’s recent codeshare agreement with Brazil’s GOL Airlines, this effort has been made to meet the increased market demand.
Increased frequency across the Atlantic
Angola and Brazil are separated by a vast stretch of the Atlantic Ocean, with São Paulo Guarulhos (GRU) and Luanda Quatro de Fevereiro (LAD) about 4,000 mi (6,500 km) apart. TAAG is currently the only airline operating flights on this transatlantic route.
The flight, which is operated on the Boeing 777, takes approximately 8 hours. The new frequency will be added on Wednesday, following the regular night flight departure from Luanda. Tickets are already available, with special conditions reserved for passengers who book their flights through the airline’s website.
The LAD-GRU route has a load factor of 73%, a positive figure 3% above the industry average. It is a profitable and essential connection for the airline and both countries. An enhanced schedule will boost trade and tourism between Angola and Brazil, especially during the holidays.
São Paulo is one of the key international destinations TAAG connects Angolans to. The airline recently announced that it would launch direct flights between Luanda and Oporto during Christmas and New Year. It will provide 14 services between Angola and Portugal from December 2023 to January 2024.
Air travel between Africa and South America
Transatlantic demand for business and leisure travelers continues to increase. The flight between São Paulo and Luanda is more than a point-to-point link, as the two destinations are positioned as connection hubs between South America, Africa, and Europe.
Passengers flying from Brazil can book onward connections to more of TAAG’s destinations on its domestic and international network. The airline is committed to improving customer service by providing travelers with enhanced connectivity.
Although Brazil has millions of outbound travelers every year, very few African airlines operate flights from Latin America to Africa to meet the demand. However, South African Airways could launch flights between Johannesburg and São Paulo later this year.
Onward connections available
TAAG flies to over 23 destinations in 10 countries, including Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS), Frankfurt Airport (FRA), Johannesburg OR Tambo (JNB), and Lagos Murtala Muhammed (LOS). The airline has been recognized internationally for its high solid yield.
Angola-bound travelers can fly onward to any of these destinations, among others. The airline’s fleet comprises 22 aircraft, including four Boeing 777-300s, three 737-700s, and five DHC-8-Q400s. In addition to passenger transport, its fleet allows an essential cargo capacity.
São Paulo Guarulhos is South America’s busiest airport, with over 16,500 aircraft movements in March 2023. Last year, GRU received 34.4 million passengers on 243,888 flights.
It is a hub for GOL and LATAM, with several other major carriers operating flights from GRU. Passengers flying from Luanda have the option for onward connections within South America, including Argentina, Chile, Columbia, and Peru.