TAAG Angola Airlines (TAAG) has signed a long-term lease agreement with Air Lease Corporation (ALC) for six new Airbus A220-300 aircraft.
Deliveries for the aircraft are expected from 2023 until 2024, however five of six aircraft are scheduled to be delivered between January and July 2023 according to a statement published by TAAG.
“Today we start our relationship with ALC incorporating six new Airbus A220-300 into our fleet. It’s indeed a significant announcement for us as we are celebrating a new era and a new vision for TAAG,” said Eduardo Fairen, CEO of TAAG in the statement.
The deal, signed during the Farnborough International Airshow 2022, is part of TAAG’s initiative to reinforce its fleet through introducing a “multi-brand strategy,” by incorporating its first Airbus type aircraft to its fleet.
“ALC is pleased to announce this significant lease placement for six new Airbus A220s with TAAG and be the first to introduce Airbus aircraft to the airline,” said Steven Udvar-Házy, Executive Chairman of Air Lease Corporation in a statement published by ALC.
Kishore Korde, Executive Vice President of Air Lease Corporation added: “The A220-300 with its fuel efficiency, range and improved operating economics will progressively replace TAAG’s Boeing 737-700 fleet and allow the airline to optimize and broaden its flight schedule coverage and destinations from Luanda.”
TAAG’s fleet consists of aircraft types such as the Boeing 777-300 ER (five), and Boeing 777-200ER (three), as well as the Boeing 737-700 (four) and De Havilland Dash 8-Q400 (six), according to fleet data published on the airline’s website and planespotters.net.
With the addition of these new aircraft, TAAG expects to cut its fuel expenses by 30% – when compared to its existing Boeing 737 models on long-haul routes – and expects to reduce operational costs globally by 20%,” according to TAAG’s statement.