Emirates and Angola's TAAG announce partnership:
Emirates and the
Republic of Angola, in its capacity as the majority shareholder of TAAG Linhas
Aéreas De Angola, have announced the signing of a Management Concession
Agreement which is expected to see Emirates take a role in the management of
TAAG, reports Wallace Mawire
It is reported that the agreement will lay the foundation for
both airlines to jointly leverage commercial opportunities in Africa and
beyond.
According to a statement released by Langmead and Baker, the ten
year Management Concession Agreement was signed
by His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief
Executive, Emirates Airline and Group and H.E. Augusto da Silva Tomás, the
Minister of Transport for the Government of Angola.
The initiative is reported to further the
Republic of Angola’s vision to create a world class Angolan carrier with the
support of Emirates. As part of the agreement,
Emirates is reported to commit to work closely with the Angolan government and
TAAG Linhas Aéreas De Angola to formulate and implement a business plan,
provide management support and devise fleet and route network strategies,
whilst bringing synergy through the complementary networks. Emirates is also
reported not to contribute equity under the agreement but will appoint four senior managers to work for TAAG Linhas
Aéreas De Angola.
Both airlines are also expected to cooperate across a wide range
of areas including bilateral code-sharing on cargo and passenger services,
participation of customers in both airlines’ frequent flyer programmes and
passenger and cargo handling. Emirates has also committed to allocate its
resources to staff and crew training on best-in-class business and operational
processes and systems.
It is further reported
that TAAG Linhas Aéreas De Angola will additionally explore business
opportunities with dnata, in particular its passenger and cargo handling,
flight catering and travel services.
dnata, part of the Emirates Group, is the largest provider of
air travel services in the Middle East and employs about 23,000 staff in 38
countries.
H.H. Sheikh Ahmed said, “Through this partnership Emirates aims to provide deeper reach
and better connectivity for our passengers in Central and Southern Africa. At
the same time, we see an opportunity for TAAG Linhas Aéreas De Angola
passengers to benefit from Emirates’ global network.
We see huge potential in Africa, and are keen to continue
playing an active role in contributing to its economies. Emirates will continue
growing our presence in Africa by opening new routes, increasing flight
frequencies, and upgrading aircraft to meet the increasing demand. Exploring
mutually beneficial agreements with established carriers such as TAAG Linhas
Aéreas De Angola is another key strategy.
We believe this new partnership will build on the success that
we have seen on our Dubai-Luanda service, and also deliver operational and
business synergies for both airlines.”
Augusto da Silva Tomás, the Minister of Transport for Government
of Angola said "The signing of this
agreement marks a very decisive step towards the restructuring of TAAG. With Emirates, our new partner and a leader in
the world of civil aviation, equipped with know-how, technology and experience, TAAG is starting a new era of
growth and progress which will also positively impact the development of Angola."
Angola is Africa’s second largest oil producer with a strong
mining sector, and is one of the fastest growing economies in the world, making
it an attractive business destination. Emirates’ first point in Africa was
Cairo, launched in 1986, and the airline has since grown a strong presence on
the African continent, serving 22 passenger destinations today: Abidjan, Accra, Addis Ababa, Cairo, Cape
Town, Casablanca, Dakar, Dar el Salaam, Durban, Entebbe, Johannesburg,
Khartoum, Lagos, Luanda, Nairobi, Tripoli, Tunis, Harare, Lusaka, Conakry,
Algiers and Abuja. It is also
reported that as African economies continue to flourish
and develop, Emirates is being well placed to contribute to this growth, by
providing valuable air links that enable trade and tourism flows. Emirates
operates over 160 flights across the continent each week, connecting African
economies and markets with Dubai and beyond to a global network of over 140
major cities.
It is also reported that the agreement will only take effect
after a number of conditions have been satisfied, including the receipt of
various government and regulatory approvals.
Comments