Johannesburg – The new Dr. António Agostinho Neto International Airport in Luanda, Angola, officially launched its inaugural passenger flights on November 10, 2024. The inaugural flight, operated by TAAG, flew from Luanda to Cabinda, marking a significant milestone in the gradual transition of operations from the older 4 de Fevereiro International Airport to the new state-of-the-art facility.
Cabinda was selected as the initial destination due to its high volume of passenger and cargo traffic, which enables efficient testing and activation of operational systems and ground crew processes. Currently, TAAG operates four daily flights to Cabinda using Dash 8-Q400 aircraft, each with a 74-passenger capacity.
This phased transfer will continue, with routes to Dundo, Saurimo, Luena, and Soyo expected to join the lineup in December 2024. Full integration of domestic and international routes is slated for completion by the first quarter of 2025, aligning with Angola’s goals to establish the new airport as a regional aviation hub.
The Dr. António Agostinho Neto International Airport, inaugurated on November 10, 2023, is designed to accommodate up to 15 million passengers annually, progressively taking over from the 4 de Fevereiro International Airport as the primary gateway to Angola.
