► ANGOLA: TAP Portugal to boost Luanda frequencies between June and September.

In line with its increased flights to former colony Mozambique this summer, Portugal's TAP Portugal (TP) will also increase its weekly frequencies between Lisbon and Luanda, Angola, from daily, to ten times weekly for the period  June 8 to September 29. During the period an additional 3 weekly day time flights (ex-Lisbon) will operate.

► PORTUGAL: TAP to début Boa Vista and Tangier in Winter 2013/14.

TAP Portugal (TP) will, during Winter 2013/14, add 2 new destinations to its network, offering 2x weekly Lisbon – Boa Vista (Cape Verde) and a 5x weekly Lisbon – Tangier (Morocco) route.

► MOZAMBIQUE: TAP Air Portugal outlines Maputo frequency increases for April - October.

Portuguese carrier TAP Air Portugal (TP) has announced it will increase its Lisbon - Maputo flights effective 1 April. In addition, TAP will deploy its Airbus A330 onto the route according to demand.

► MOROCCO: TAP Air Portugal boosts capacity to Marrakech, Casablanca from March.

For the upcoming IATA Northern Summer Season (from 31 March), Portugal's TAP (TP) will increase capacity on select Morocco flights with the delpoyment of the Airbus A319 aircraft on its flights to Marrakech and Casablanca.

► ANGOLA: TAP Portugal and TAAG considering flights to Catumbela?

Built by Brazilian contractors Oderbrecht International with finishing touches applied by Portuguese firm, Somague at a total cost of US$250 million and consisting of a new passenger terminal capable of handling 900 passengers/hour, 16 check-in counters, 18 immigration booths, two boarding bridges that can handle four aircraft simultaneously, a 3'500 metre long runway and an apron that can hold four Boeing 777-300 or Boeing 767 aircraft or 22 small/medium sized aircraft at the same time, Angola's new Catumbela Airport, in Benguela Province was on Monday, officially opened by Angolan President José Eduardo dos Santos.

► MOZAMBIQUE: TAP Air Portugal boosts Maputo flights; considers Nacala.

With Portuguese companies gaining various large contracts and growing numbers of young Portuguese professionals moving to ex-colony Mozambique in hopes of escaping the Euro-zone Crisis, so Portuguese carrier TAP Air Portugal (TP) is set to boost direct flights between Lisbon and Maputo from 3x weekly, to 4x weekly, with the addition of a Monday flight effective 2 July 2012. The route is serviced by an Airbus A340-300.

TAP Air Portugal in Maputo (AChaves)

So strong has performance on the route been, that TAP in January 2011 axed its Lisbon - Maputo - Johannesburg, South Africa  flight in order to better focus on the Mozambique market.

TAP Air Portugal: Lisbon - Maputo
-Effective 2 July 2012

• TP281 LIS0950 - 2120MPM  343 1247
• TP282 MPM2305 – 0915+1LIS 343 1247

Also being considered are flights from Lisbon to the northern Mozambican port of Nacala, in Nampula Province, the site of enormous coal and phosphate deposits (in addition to the various infrastructural improvements they will need), currently being exploited by a fellow Lusophone country Brazil's, Vale S.A. 

"The current average occupancy of flights to Maputo is estimated at 80 percent and Couto said that her company is taking into consideration the possibility of flying to Nacala in the northern province of Nampula in case the number of clients is significant and if the airport rehabilitation allows it to host planes operated by TAP."

Read More Here [CNTV China]

A Rendering of Nacala Airport (ADM)

Presently, Nacala Airport is being upgraded by Brazilian firm Odebrecht International and entails the construction of passenger and cargo terminals, a control tower, maintenance building, firefighting building, runway, taxi ways, a parking lot and all necessary equipment and systems. The project will involve 23 months of construction work, with delivery scheduled for March 2013. The runway will be 3,400 metres (11,200 ft) long, able to handle a Boeing 757 or 767 whilst the airport itself will be able to handle 500,000 to 600,000 passengers a year.