State-owned carrier of Angola, TAAG Angola Airlines has placed an order for 9 Airbus A220-300 aircraft at the Paris Air Show further increasing the preference of the equipment by airline operators.
According to simpleflying.com, the carrier had announced at the Paris Air Show its agreement with Aviation Capital Group (ACG) for its intent to lease four Airbus A220-300 aircraft.
With deliveries expected from 2025, the aircraft will be siphoned from ACG’s current order with Airbus and are expected to operate from TAAG’s hub at Luanda’s Quatro de Fevereiro Airport (LAD); the aircraft will help facilitate connecting Angola to various destinations across Africa.
Four plus six
The four aircraft ordered this year at the Paris Air Show are in addition to the airline’s current order of six A220s placed with Air Lease Corporation in a deal initially made at the 2022 Farnborough Air Show. With the first order expected to be delivered in January this year, once they eventually arrive, the airline will utilize the A220 to replace its aging Boeing 737 fleet, with many having an average age of over 16 years.
TAAG also announced a partnership with lessor, NAC for a further two Airbus A220s regional jets, for delivery in 2025 or later.
At the start of day 2, TAAG announced another lease agreement signing, this time with Azorra. The agreement covers three further A220s, to add to the four signed already.
Eduardo Fairen, CEO of TAAG Angola Airlines, commented: “Incorporating four new A220 aircraft under this agreement is a sign of our international credibility and a major milestone in renewing the TAAG fleet. We are deeply committed to growing the company, leveraging our market share and destination portfolio. Our passengers will benefit from higher connectivity options while planning their trips and a greater flight experience overall, as the Airbus A220 is a smart, tech-advanced equipment suitable for nowadays gadgets.”
Suited for the African aviation market
Compared to its existing Boeing B737-700s, TAAG says that on long-haul routes, the A220s will cut fuel consumption by around 30% and operational costs by 20%. TAAG says the versatility of the A220 gives it the range flexibility to cover intra-African and intercontinental markets with state-of-the-art efficiency.
With TAAG looking to expand its network and presence across Africa and beyond, Mikail Houari, Airbus President of Africa and the Middle East, noted the suitability of the A220 and how the African aviation market is well-suited for the aircraft:
“The A220 is perfectly suited to the requirements of the African market and is the ideal choice for TAAG Airlines as it expands its footprint on the continent and beyond. Thanks to its optimal size, single aisle comfort, and generous baggage and cargo capacity, the aircraft will further elevate TAAG’s service capabilities.”
Growth at TAAG.
With plenty of growth opportunities in the African aviation market, TAAG is looking to double its fleet by 2027 by sourcing up to 28 new aircraft, with new destinations critical to the airline’s growth strategy. Despite a challenging 2022, the airline recorded a net profit and looked to reinvest its fortunes into re-developing the carrier.
TAAG operates in 23 destinations across Africa, Europe, and South America. With Angola being an ex-Portugese colony, the airline remains connected to many major Portuguese cities, including Lisbon and Porto (Portugal), Maputo (Mozambique), Sal (Cape Verde), São Paulo Guarulhos (Brazil) and São Tomé (São Tomé and Príncipe).
But two African operators of the Airbus A220-300, Air Tanzania and Air Senegal, are having problems operating with the aircraft due to its, Pratt & Whitney PW1524G-3 engines.
According to atqnews.com, both Air Senegal and Air Tanzania, were losing patience with aircraft manufacturer, over delay in replacing the faulty A220 aircraft engines operated by the carriers which has left them losing revenue.
According to airinsight.com, growing frustration with delays in making good on issues that have grounded a number of Pratt & Whitney PW1524G-3 powered Airbus A220s, drawing both operators closer, as they consider a joint bid to seek recompense from the manufacturer.
Tanzania media report that a delegation from Air Senegal was in Dar es Salaam where they held meetings with their ATC counterparts over their common frustration with P&W. ATC chief executive Ladsilaus Matindi, later said the meetings had discussed P&W’s failure to meet its obligations under the engine supply contracts with the carriers.
“We have been engaged in amicable negotiations with the company to fix the serious engine problems so that the planes can resume normal flight operations. But if amicable negotiations fail, we could resort to legal action,” Matindi was quoted as saying.
Without revealing financial details, Matindi further clarified that the carrier had been seeking replacement engines and compensation for the losses incurred for the time the aircraft have been grounded.
Slightly different problems
While they have suffered disruptions from the unavailability of aircraft, the two airlines’ problems are slightly different. Air Tanzania, which was the African launch customer for the A220, has had two of its A220-300s grounded for more than six months over PW1524G-3 Airworthiness Directives.
On the other hand, Air Senegal has been unable to implement its growth plans because only one of five A220s on order, through a lease from Macquarie Air Finance, has been delivered in December 2021. According to media reports, the carrier has threatened to cancel the entire A220-300 order totaling eight aircraft including three options.
