On the back of an 11% increase in passenger numbers posted for 2012, TAAG Linhas Aéreas de Angola (DT), Angola's national carrier, is to purchase an additional three Boeing 777-300ERs due for delivery from 2019/2020. |
| TAAG 777-300ER (AirlinersGallery) |
Speaking at a meeting between the Angolan Minister of Transport, Augusto da Silva Tomás, and the CEO of General Electric (GE), Jess Immelt, TAAG Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Pimentel Araújo, said the company anticipated "an increase in air traffic of 14% this year" thus enabling the Angolan national carrier to invest in more aircraft. According to ANGOP, delivery of the additional planes "could well be brought forward should the expansion of the company so demand."
No official confirmation from Boeing regarding the order has been heard of as yet, however.
Should the new order be confirmed, it will add to TAAG's current deal with Boeing, signed in April 2012, for the purchase of three other B777-300ERs with the first expected to be delivered in May 2014, the second in December 2015 and the third in March 2016.
TAAG currently uses its three Boeing 777-200ERs and two 777-300ERs from its hub in Luanda,
Angola to Lisbon, Johannesburg, Dubai, Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro
