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By Frank Meke.
Angolan National Carrier, known in Portuguese, as Transportes Aereos Angolanos, eyes bigger chunk of both Africa and global travel markets with new state of tech Airbus Aircrafts, to replace some of its ageing variants of Boeing 737 700 in its fleet.
Taag Angola, possibly Africa’s oldest state owned airline, founded in 1938, intends to step up competition in response to its growing customers’ requests and also open flood gates of global tourism markets, particularly across Africa where it promises stronghold connectivity to six Leisure destinations.
With a strategic hub in launda, capital of launda, the airline dedicates Special flights to six cities with credible holiday ecosystems across Africa region such as Cape Town, johanesbourg, in South Africa, Maputo, Mozambique, Tome and Principe, Point noire in Brazzaville, WINDHOEK,Namibia and not forgetting its thriving new global address as oil drilling power in Africa.
Speaking at its travel trade professionals forum in lagos on Friday, the airline says it offers better, competitive, and safer flights to Europe , South America, and Africa, noting that its experience in ferrying passengers for decades across the globe stands the airline ahead of competition in both European, South American and African routes.
Sharing well researched and growing holiday destinations in Africa with Nigeria Travel professionals to aid their destination promotion marketing,Christopher Isaiah, the airline’s, Commercial Manager services , advised travel professionals and planners to take advantage of the virgin vacation destinations in Africa to promote special and group tours offerings such as adventure, honeymoon vacations, corporate retreats, conferences and annual General meetings, incentive trips and nature discoveries.
” we are not limiting your company to these destinations and will encourage you to research more on African destinations, and we assure you of effective connectivity from our hub in launda and special group package for your team once you can muster up to ten persons to fly with us” Christopher Isaiah explained to the excited travel trade professionals.
He stated further that Taag Angola will soon overhaul its onboard services as soon its Airbus Aircrafts are deployed, adding that the airline will sustain its reputation as a reliable and efficient air transportation provider.
” we fly three times weekly out of lagos on Sundays, Tuesdays, and Fridays , offering seamless connectivity to Europe , South America, and most African countries. So we implore you to advise your clients on our profile, taking advantage of our growing route offerings and enduring partnerships with other travel service providers, isaiah stressed , and further under pinned the importance of visa validation and other health travel documents such as Yellow card and covid tests certifications which travellers must present as compulsory to either transit or gain entry at point of arrivals or departures.
” we want all our trade partners to be up and doing in this area and will be willing to help validate the genuineness of visas, particularly to Brazil, before issuing tickets to passengers . We are concerned when at the point of profiling or even at immigration in those countries where such innocent passengers are turned back due to fake visas being paraded and to which we can not be held liable, so kindly be thorough before issuing tickets.
On refunds, the airline’s Commercial boss took time to explain the “no show” window, which most travel planners and agents hinged their requests for refund, saying such requests were usually made in ignorance of the rules of engagement.
Christopher Isaiah noted that Taag Angola Nigeria is credible when it comes to refund checks and will at times play by the rules of engagement.
Earlier, the General Manager , Taag Angola Nigeria, Mrs Gloria Atumu, welcomed the trade professionals who braved the early morning rain in lagos to attend the event, promising to ensure both the trade professionals and their clients enjoy the relationship with the airline, which is determined to provide the best and affordable travel services to Nigerian travelling public.
Nanta President, Mrs Susan Akporiaye, who also breezed into the well attended programme, praised the initiative and commitment of the airline, adding that time has come for African airlines to rise to the challenges of providing competitive and safer air transportation services, to facilitate Intra African tourism and business opportunities.
She later visited Kenya Airways and Air cote d’vore, where she commended their firm presence in the Africa air transportation ecosystem, adding that the airlines should let Nigerian travel trade professionals know about their services, promising to work together with them to make travelling stress free for Nigerian travelling public.
