TAAG leap back refreshed and new

[flare and touchdown!]

Taag Angola Airlines following a suspension of it's fleet by the CAA after they were accussed of lack of matinence to the aircraft they operate (732's and 743's) have leapt back into action again, with 2 brand new 737-700's from Boeing in Seattle, coupled with a 777-200ER.

Wow! Never seen an airline get on it's feet and back into operation that quick.

To help them out, Air Namibia has taken over services from Luanda - Windhoek (having leased another 732 - V5-ANE) while there is a slight shortage of aircraft in TAAG's fleet.

Taag are also hoping for the second 777-200ER to be delivered with another 737-700 in the first quater of 2007.

Also, they are supposedly in talks with boeing about aquiring a new 777-300ER as well.

Is this a major goverment investment this huge revamp to the fleet?

Taag have a lot of work to do; if they are to meet IATA DEC 2007 deadline for 100% e-ticketing on all routes, they've got a speedy recovery to get through.

Anyone have any info on this or other info with Taag?

[jbayfan]

I hear their new aircraft are not flying yet because none of their pilots can pass their ratings??

[Voel]

They operated into Windhoek yesterday with one of the B737-700 with all American crew. I guess their crew will be trained first.

[fractional]

Taag Angola Airlines following a suspension of it's fleet by the CAA after they were accussed of lack of matinence to the aircraft they operate (732's and 743's) and I hear their new aircraft are not flying yet because none of their pilots can pass their ratings??
Well, old problems there. On another issue and just pure curiousity, what happened to the new colour scheme? Quite a novelty and a nice one too...
It was like this: http://www1.airliners.net/open.file?id=1123941&WxsIERv=Obrvat%20777-2Z2%2FRE&Wm=0&WdsYXMg=GNNT%20Natbyn%20Nveyvarf&QtODMg=Rirergg%20-%20Fabubzvfu%20Pbhagl%20%2F%20Cnvar%20Svryq%20%28CNR%20%2F%2 0XCNR%29&ERDLTkt=HFN%20-%20Jnfuvatgba&ktODMp=Bpgbore%202006&BP=0&WNEb25u=Eblny%20F%20Xvat&xsIERvdWdsY=Q2-GRR&MgTUQtODMgKE=Jvyy%20arire%20ragre%20freivpr%20va%20gurfr%20p bybef%2C%20naq%20jvyy%20or%20ercnvagrq%20orsber%20qryvirel.% 20Qbqtrl%20yvtug%2C%20ohg%20nyybjnaprf%20ner%20znqr%20sbe%20 fhpu%20ener%20vgrzf.&YXMgTUQtODMgKERD=7547&NEb25uZWxs=2006-10-14%2003%3A19%3A00&ODJ9dvCE=&O89Dcjdg=34566%2F587&static=yes&width=1024&height=679&sok=JURER%20%20%28cynpr%20%3D%20%27Rirergg%20-%20Fabubzvfu%20Pbhagl%20%2F%20Cnvar%20Svryq%20%28CNR%20%2F%2 0XCNR%29%27%29%20%20beqre%20ol%20cubgb_vq%20qrfp&photo_nr=33&prev_id=1123942&next_id=1123895&size=L
It turned out like this, this month: http://www1.airliners.net/open.file?id=1130574&WxsIERv=Obrvat%20777-2Z2%2FRE&Wm=0&WdsYXMg=GNNT%20Natbyn%20Nveyvarf&QtODMg=Rirergg%20-%20Fabubzvfu%20Pbhagl%20%2F%20Cnvar%20Svryq%20%28CNR%20%2F%2 0XCNR%29&ERDLTkt=HFN%20-%20Jnfuvatgba&ktODMp=Bpgbore%2027%2C%202006&BP=0&WNEb25u=Revpx%20Ybcrm&xsIERvdWdsY=Q2-GRQ&MgTUQtODMgKE=GNNT%27f%20svefg%20777%20nsgre%20orvat%20ercnva grq%20va%20byq%20yvirel.%20V%20nyernql%20zvff%20gur%20arj%20 yvirel.&YXMgTUQtODMgKERD=25107&NEb25uZWxs=2006-10-28%2010%3A12%3A06&ODJ9dvCE=&O89Dcjdg=34565%2F581&static=yes&width=1024&height=695&sok=JURER%20%20%28cynpr%20%3D%20%27Rirergg%20-%20Fabubzvfu%20Pbhagl%20%2F%20Cnvar%20Svryq%20%28CNR%20%2F%2 0XCNR%29%27%29%20%20beqre%20ol%20cubgb_vq%20qrfp&photo_nr=20&prev_id=1130722&next_id=1129193&size=L
Did I miss something somewhere?:confused:

[flare and touchdown!]

I think the airline is trying out what different schemes will appear like on their aircraft.

I can imagine after the disaster with the CAA and the bad publicity they received, they probably want a new look; and are deciding however how to paint their new planes - staying with their old scheme and logo or changing it.

[Dan Air 87]

Its fantastic that TAAG have at long last upgraded their equipment and I can't wait to see the 777 when I am next in CDG. Its sad to see their 747-300's go but having seen the inside of the cargo hold, I can quite understand why. There was talk of TAAG being allowed in to London as part of the deal that saw BA start flying on the route.
Does anyone know anything more?

It is sad that in LAD they still have their Il 62's parked up waiting to be broken up as they rust away. It is such a shame!

[flare and touchdown!]

There have been a few issues with a number of BA Heathrow - Africa routes, this may have been one of them.

Taag i'm preety sure have shown interest in the London route, as there is no competition directly from Luanda really anyway.

However, 2 problems.
They are waiting for more 777's before they can work out expanding to new destinations (they lack aircraft on the ones they serve at the mo. - so starting new ones is not on their immeadiate agenda!)
Heathrow is virtually impossible to get a slot into, and so, Gatwick airport remain the only real possible option; with Luton and Stansted showing little interest to them (i assume you know why.)

The problem with Gatwick is that if Air Namibia in any way feel under pressure from Taag, taking away potential for customers into Gatwick via windhoek (Air Namibia serve gatwick as well), they may drop the temproary suspended codeshare partnership they have on the Luanda - Windhoek route.

However, dispite this, it is a strong considerable option for Taag.

[Dan Air 87]

I had forgotten about the Namibia code share between LAD and Windhoek which as you say might put TAAG off LGW-LAD. I thought that TAAG were going to do LGW as an extension to one of their LAD-CDG rotations. I hope that they do start this up soon as the only option is BA LHR-LAD which isn't much use as it as weekend rotation. It doesn't work for the company I contract for. Offshore crew rotations are during the week and my company doesn't like to pay for my hotac in LAD when there is the alternative of a Sunday or Monday AF or TAAG flight instead.

Anyway, I love LAD for the range of ex Soviet stuiff that is there. Just one final moan- what will happen to the TAAG B737-200's???

[pimaraujo]

The terms of this thread are not correct.
TAAG purchased 3 B777-200ER and 4 B737-700 and it is finalizing negotiations for an additional B777-300ER (maybe already done).
2 B777 and 3 B737 were scheduled to be delivered on last 12th September and due to a painting scheme problem the delivery was delayed to 11th November. This delay caused a shortage of domestic aircraft as 1 B737-200 was due for D check (he will be scrapped) and 3 other aircraft of same type were due for C check which will be done.
It is also not true the information about the crews. The only expats from Boeing are Instructors to complete the training on line of Angolan crews and it is flying only one Instructor at a time complementing the Angolan crew for both type of aircraft.
Air Namibia increased one more flight a week as TAAG also did the same. Now there are 6 flights a week between Luanda and Windhoek as soon there will daily flights to Johannesburg.

[Dan Air 87]

On my next rotation through LAD I will try and get the Company to book me on a TAAG 777 service from CDG. I just hope that the cabin crew are up to the job. Let us hope that these new aircraft are a new future for TAAG and that they can begin to make some money!

[akut]

...and also (3) AVIC MA-60 by early 2008

akut:suspect:

[Alan Tracey]

Any chance of TAAG getting the rights to fly back into Europe soon??????