Airbus presented an airBaltic Airbus A220-300 on a demonstration flight to TAAG – Linhas Aéreas de Angola this Tuesday, December 6th, in Luanda.
The model is expected to be integrated into the fleet of the flag carrier of the Republic of Angola from August 2023 and will thus receive six units over the next two years via lease agreement with ALC.
The event which took place at the 4 de Fevereiro International Airport, saw invited guests boarding the airBaltic aircraft which features 145 seats in a single class passenger cabin.
This is the first time that Airbus has conducted a demonstration flight in the Southern African region.
TAAG announced this Tuesday that its staff will start training next February 2023, in order to be able to carry out safely and efficiently the operation and maintenance of the new aircraft, that will replace the Boeing 737-700 currently in service to regional destinations in Africa.
“The reinforcement of TAAG’s fleet is evidence of the modernization and growth path that includes a more versatile fleet capable of responding to the needs of the continental and Latin American markets (aligned with the growing evolution of TAAG’s network of destinations and frequencies) , which will allow the company to take greater advantage of the country’s geostrategic positioning, boosted by the Luanda hub and the New Dr. Agostinho Neto, which is in an accelerated finishing phase, on the outskirts of the Angolan capital.
“TAAG’s objective is to work with everyone, and with the best manufacturers in the world, structuring its fleet in a multi-brand format (Boeing, Airbus and Dash8) choosing the most appropriate aircraft for our regional and intercontinental operations” says Eduardo Fairen, Chairman of the Executive Committee of TAAG.
Powered by Pratt & Whitney PW1500G geared turbofan engines, the A220 is capable of flying non-stop on routes of up to 3,400 nautical miles (6,300 km), and generates fuel savings of up to 25% compared with older generation aircraft of a similar size.
The aircraft is available in two versions, with the -100 variant seating between 100 and 130 passengers and the larger -300 variant seating between 130 and 160 in typical airline layouts.
Today, the A220-300 is operated in the Africa region by several airlines including Air Tanzania, Air Senegal, Air Austral, and EgyptAir on both domestic and international services with 10 aircraft.
Nigeria’s Ibom Air has an order for 10 units with deliveries to begin in 2023.
To date, Airbus has received 740 orders for the A220 and delivered more than 200.
