TAAG Angola Airlines continues to strengthen its presence in the air cargo sector with the launch of a new freighter route to Nairobi, Kenya. The first flight took place on Wednesday, 30 April, marking a strategic step in the company’s expansion on the African continent.
The new LAD-NBO (Luanda-Nairobi) service will operate once a week on Wednesday and will prioritize the transport of flowers, taking advantage of Kenya’s potential as one of the world’s largest flower exporters, with an estimated cargo capacity of 18,000 kg per flight, which could reach between 1 and 2 million kg per year.
“From Nairobi, we hope to transport a large quantity of flowers and other perishables to Angola and the destinations served by TAAG. This route will create new trade opportunities and strengthen our cargo network on the continent,” emphasizes David Ambridge, TAAG’s Director of Cargo and Mail.
The new operation is part of TAAG’s expansion plan, consolidating the Nairobi hub in East Africa as a connector with the United Arab Emirates and India. In addition, the company aims to offer another logistical alternative for Kenyan flower exporters, facilitating access to the European market via TAAG’s hub in Luanda.
Economic impact and partnerships
To ensure an efficient and integrated operation, TAAG Angola Airlines has entered strategic partnerships with international players specialized in cargo and focused on the Kenyan market, namely Aerospeed Express, Mitchell Cotts, and Tradewinds, which have modern cargo infrastructures at Jomo Kenyatta Airport and a vast portfolio of agents. TAAG has also organized meetings between Kenyan flower exporters and Angolan buyers to facilitate an effective trade bridge and promote the participation of national entrepreneurs.
It should be emphasised that the introduction of the new route will make a significant contribution to increasing trade between Angola and Kenya, benefiting both Kenyan exporters and Angolan importers.
Strengthening TAAG’s competitiveness in the African market
The expansion of TAAG’s cargo operation is in line with efforts to transform Luanda into a regional air transport hub, maximizing the potential of the new airport infrastructure at Dr. António Agostinho Neto International Airport, currently with 120,000 tons of annual capacity. In addition, this initiative contributes directly to the objectives of the African Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), promoting greater commercial integration between the countries of the continent.
With this new route and the expansion plans already drawn up, TAAG is reaffirming its commitment to sustainable growth and the modernization of the air cargo transport sector in Angola and on the African continent.
The company also has plans to expand its cargo operations in 2025 to other strategic cities, including Libreville (LBV), Kinshasa (FIH), Harare (HRE), Lusaka (LUN), and Accra (ACC), strengthening its presence in the African market.
