In a massive leap for Angola’s aviation infrastructure, the highly anticipated Agostinho Neto International Airport (ANIA), with an investment of $3.8 billion, is poised for a grand inauguration in Luanda on November 10.
The state-of-the-art international airport marks a significant milestone in Angola’s commitment to fostering connectivity and elevating its status as a key player in the global aviation landscape.
According to energycapitalpower.com, developed by China’s Aviation Industry Corporation, the airport will elevate Angola as a regional aviation hub and fuel economic growth by expanding domestic flights and enhancing business connectivity.
José Paulo Nobrega, ANIA’s Coordinator of the Operational Office, said “Its operation will create thousands of direct and indirect jobs—the creation of the airport city will be a center for development in our city, focusing on sustainability and urban mobility.”
Comprising a terminal with a handling capacity of 15 million passengers per year and cargo handling capacity of 130,000 tons per annum during the first phase, ANIA will replace the existing Quatro de Fevereiro International Airport as the country’s main international airport.
The state-owned airport will host TAAG, Angola’s national airline, as well as regional and international carriers to provide domestic, regional and global transport services.
According to Ricardo de Abreu, Angola’s Minister of Transport, ANIA will start with cargo operations only and introduce passenger services for the domestic market in the first quarter of 2024. International flights are expected to start in the third quarter of 2024.
“We have a changing and increasingly attractive legal and economic framework. The reforms that have been carried out in the country are aimed at making Luanda an equally attractive destination for various aviation operators,” reiterated Nobrega.
