TAAG Angola Airlines, Emirates to sign strategic cooperation agreement

TAAG Angola Airlines (DT, Luanda) and Emirates (EK, Dubai Int'l) have signed an operational and commercial cooperation agreement, a precursor to a strategic cooperation agreement, following the recent visit of a high powered Angolan delegation to Dubai late last month. 

Among the dignitaries who oversaw the agreement were the Secretary of State for Civil Aviation, Dr Mário Domingues, representing the Minister for Transport, Dr Augusto da Silva Tomás, and various senior officials from TAAG and Angola's civil aviation regulatory authorities, Instituto Nacional da Aviação Civil (INAVIC) and Empresa Nacional de Exploração de Aeroportos e Navegação Aérea (ENANA). 

The agreement is broken down into two phases; the first involves developing operational and commercial cooperation between TAAG and Emirates in the areas of training, passenger & cargo services and frequent flyer programs. The second involves the establishment of a comprehensive strategic partnership between the two airlines. 

Since 2008, TAAG's owner, the Angolan government, has sought to restructure airline into a modern, profitable carrier capable of leveraging Luanda's ideal location for a strategic Central African hub.

Source: CH-Aviation