Angolan start-up Air Connection Express Transportes Aereos S.A is set to secure six Dash 8-400s following the signing of a firm order agreement between African Aero Trading, acting on behalf of the Angolan consortium, and Bombardier Aerospace.
Formerly known as Angola Expresso, Air Connection Express is a Public Private Partnership (PPP) aimed at ensuring more reliable, cost-effective domestic flights throughout Angola. Members of the consortium include state-owned TAAG Angola Airlines (the majority shareholder), the state-owned air services provider ENANA and private carriers such as Airjet, Air 26, Bestfly, Diexim Expresso Aviaçao, Mavewa Táxi Aéreo, SJL Aeronáutica, and Air Gicango.
The consortium is in the process of putting together a management team as well as an operational structure for Air Connection Express.
The move to consolidate Angola's carriers under a singular umbrella firm will ensure greater economies of scale and will also allow the airlines to pool their respective skill-based resources. However, given that the Q400 is new to the Angolan market, under the terms of the agreement, Bombardier will train 25 cabin crew, 55 pilots, 40 mechanics, among other skill sets, and will also ensure the presence of a field representative for 36 months, in order to assist in Air Connection Express' successful launch.
According to the official Angop news agency, Transport Minister Augusto da Silva Tomás said during the signing ceremony in Luanda this weekend that he was aiming to have the new carrier operational by 2019.
"Everything is being handled between the parties, so that the planes arrive in the country as soon as possible, since they depend on the start of operations, but in principle the first four will arrive in 2019 and the other two in 2020," he said.
Aside from increased connectivity, Air Connection Express will also work to bring down the overall cost of travel in the country. It will also act as a feeder carrier to TAAG for international flights and vice versa. As such, the Q400s will be deployed to four bases around Angola - Cabinda (north), Lubango (south), Luena (east), and Catumbela (central).
