Angola’s national carrier, TAAG Angola Airlines, is preparing to launch non-stop flights to Houston by 2027, after the airline welcomed the first Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner into its fleet.
According to Simple Flying, the carrier’s new route to Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) will likely operate from Luanda’s Quatro de Fevereiro International Airport (LAD), Angola’s primary international hub. Currently, no other airline offers nonstop direct flights between Luanda and Houston.
The flights between the two destinations are expected to launch after Angola receives the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)’s Category 1 rating. Category 1 means “the air carriers from the assessed state may initiate or continue service to the United States in a normal manner and take part in reciprocal codeshare arrangements with US carriers,” according to the US aviation regulator.
The route between Luanda and Houston spans as far as 6,636 nautical miles (12,289 km). The Angolan national airline would likely deploy its recently delivered Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner on the corridor. The new aircraft will support its fleet modernization plans and boost its long-haul capacity. TAAG Angola Airlines CEO Nelson Rodrigues said: “The delivery of the 787-9 is a pivotal step in our strategy to modernize TAAG Angola Airlines’ fleet. This airplane brings the efficiency and versatility we need to meet growing market demands, replace our aging widebody fleet, and deliver a world-class experience to our passengers.”
Notably, the airline’s brand-new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, registered as D2-TEQ, can accommodate a total of 313 passengers in a three-class cabin layout: 16 in business class, 21 in premium economy, and 276 in economy class. The new Dreamliner is on a sale and leaseback agreement with AerCap, making it the first lessor to introduce the 787 to the Angolan carrier
It is worth noting that TAAG currently has a fleet of 26 aircraft, with an average age of 13.2 years, according to ch-aviation data. Notably, the airline operates a relatively diverse aircraft fleet, including nine Boeing 737 family aircraft, six De Havilland Dash 8s, five Boeing 777-300ERs, three Boeing 777-200ERs, two Airbus A220-300s, and a single Boeing 787-9 widebody aircraft.
The airline currently operates a robust domestic and international network. Its long-haul network includes destinations across Latin America and Europe, according to its official website. TAAG Angola Airlines operates long-haul flights to São Paulo, Brazil, and Havana, Cuba. The European network includes destinations such as Lisbon, Portugal; Frankfurt, Germany; Madrid and Barcelona, Spain; as well as Brussels, Belgium.
To operate on these routes, the Angolan flag carrier typically deploys its fleet of Boeing 777 widebody aircraft. TAAG’s Boeing 777-200ERs can accommodate a total of 235 passengers in a three-class cabin configuration: 14 in first class, 51 in business class, and 170 in economy class. Meanwhile, the airline’s Boeing 777-300ER fleet has a higher capacity than the 777-200ER, seating up to 293 passengers, again in a three-class cabin layout: 12 in first class, 56 in business class, and 225 in economy class.
