TAAG Angola Airlines Clears EU Hurdle for Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner Operations
TAAG Angola Airlines has received European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) approval to operate its Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner across Europe, with the Luanda-Lisbon route set to be the first service to benefit from the clearance. The Angolan flag carrier, which currently operates two daily Boeing 777-300ER flights on that route, began building its Dreamliner fleet following commitments made at the Dubai Airshow in 2023. TAAG now operates four Dreamliners - two 787-9s and two 787-10s - acquired through sale-and-leaseback arrangements with lessors AerCap and Avolon, with the EASA approval applying specifically to the 787-9 variant.
The approval supports TAAG's broader long-haul expansion strategy, which includes the resumption of flights to Guangzhou, China, from 23 June 2026 - the airline's first return to the route since before the pandemic - operated once weekly with the 787-9. The carrier has also signalled interest in launching a service to Houston in the United States in 2027, subject to further regulatory approvals. TAAG Chairman Clóvis Rosa described the EASA clearance as recognition of the airline's compliance with European technical, operational, and regulatory standards, positioning the carrier among a growing number of African airlines investing in modern, fuel-efficient widebody aircraft to strengthen international connectivity.
Source: Business Insider Africa
