Page 32 - LUA March-April 2025

NEWS

Airlines strengthen global reach TAAG welcomes

with strategic GSA appointments first Boeing 787-9

with new livery ahead

of Angola’s 50th
anniversary

AAG Angola Airlines has received its
Tfirst Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, registered
D2-TEQ and named ‘Namibe.’ Leased from
AERCAP, the aircraft arrived in Luanda
from Seattle on January 30, 2025, featuring
a refreshed livery and a special logo
marking Angola’s 50 years of independence.
This is the first of four Dreamliners
ordered by TAAG—two 787-9s and two
787-10s. The new livery prominently
displays the Palanca, symbolising national
pride. The delivery aligns with Liberation
Day celebrations on February 4. TAAG
operates a mixed fleet including Boeing
outh African Airways Cargo Meanwhile, Astral Aviation has 737s, 777s, Airbus A220s, and Dash 8s. A
Sand Astral Aviation are appointed Network Aviation recent agreement with Lufthansa Technik
boosting their international cargo Group as its GSA for Europe and ensures long-term technical support for
networks with key General Sales the US and HIT Cargo Asia for the Dreamliners, reinforcing TAAG’s
Agent (GSA) appointments. SAA mainland China. These moves modernisation and expansion goals.
Cargo has partnered with Zeal aim to expand Astral’s footprint
Global Services to represent it across major global markets.
in India, tapping into a growing Both airlines highlight the
6,000-tonne cargo market, largely value of experienced partners
bound for Johannesburg. The in delivering efficient air cargo
collaboration will focus on key solutions and driving post-
sectors like pharmaceuticals, pandemic growth across Africa,
textiles, and auto parts. Asia, and beyond.

Emirates SkyCargo, Astral Aviation join forces to strengthen Africa trade

n February 2025, Emirates Continental Free Trade Area
ISkyCargo and Africa-based (AfCFTA) and the UAE-
cargo airline Astral Aviation Kenya CEPA signed recently.
signed a memorandum of Emirates’ global network of over
understanding (MoU) at Air 145 destinations, combined
Cargo Africa event in Nairobi to with Astral’s reach across 50
enhance air cargo connectivity African cities, strengthens trade
to and from Africa. The MoU lanes for key commodities
was signed by Badr Abbas, like pharmaceuticals and
Divisional Senior Vice President perishables. This collaboration
of Emirates SkyCargo and marks a significant step in the
Sanjeev Gadhia, CEO of Astral carriers’ 15-year relationship
Aviation. The partnership aims and enhances Africa’s access
to expand interline options to global supply chains
and block space agreements, through increased efficiency
supporting the African and connectivity.

30 LUA MARCH - APRIL 2025