The Angolan national airline, TAAG, is set to launch flights between Luanda and Praia, Cape Verde, starting December 12, 2026. This announcement was made by Angolan Minister of Transport, Ricardo de Abreu, during the Lusophone Africa Investment Forum on the island of Sal, Cape Verde. The new route is part of Angola's efforts to strengthen air connectivity within the Community of Portuguese Language Countries.
According to Minister de Abreu, TAAG already operates flights between Luanda and other Lusophone destinations, including Maputo and São Tomé, as well as routes to Portugal and Brazil. The new connection to Praia aims to expand the network of connections between Portuguese-speaking countries, facilitating the circulation of people, goods, and business opportunities.
Minister de Abreu emphasized the need for mechanisms that allow countries to share the costs of implementing and maintaining strategic routes. He noted that the expansion of air connectivity requires joint commitments and solutions that ensure the economic sustainability of operations. The minister also highlighted the importance of cooperation between governments, public enterprises, private operators, and international partners in developing Africa's transport infrastructure.
De Abreu warned that some countries view African logistics corridors as competitors, when in fact, the priority should be to maximize the use of existing infrastructure and promote complementarity between different transport axes. He cited the proximity of major European ports, such as Rotterdam, Antwerp, Hamburg, and Amsterdam, as an example of how African corridors should be developed with a logic of regional integration rather than isolated competition.
The minister also discussed the importance of large-scale investments and cooperation models to guarantee the viability of projects, such as the Lobito Corridor, which involves Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo. He stressed that attracting private investment depends on the ability to structure financially viable and bankable projects, which is necessary to mobilize resources from international financial institutions and private investors.
De Abreu proposed the creation of a platform for dialogue, investment, and promotion of joint initiatives, inspired by governance models developed with the support of the World Bank Group and other international partners. This platform aims to transform cooperation intentions into concrete projects with financing mechanisms, cost-sharing, and coordination between participating countries.
The minister concluded that political, social, macroeconomic, and financial stability are fundamental conditions for accelerating economic growth, creating jobs, and driving the development of the African continent. He called for greater integration between Lusophone countries in the air transport sector, as well as in the port and rail sectors, emphasizing that cooperation must produce concrete results for national economies.
Key points
- TAAG to launch Luanda-Praia flights on December 12, 2026.
- Angola aims to boost air connectivity within the Portuguese-speaking community.
- Minister de Abreu calls for greater integration and cooperation between Lusophone countries.
