Luanda, June 2, 2026 (Lusa) - TAAG, Angola's flag carrier, will launch a route between Angola and Guangzhou, China, on 23 June, it announced on Tuesday, as trade between the two countries stood at $20.8 billion (€17.8 billion) in 2025.
Speaking to the press, the chair of TAAG - Linhas Aéreas de Angola expressed great optimism about the launch of this route, which will connect Luanda International Airport with the Chinese city of Guangzhou, with high passenger numbers expected.
Clóvis Rosa highlighted that the Chinese community in Angola numbers around 50,000 people and that many Angolans also travel to this destination to purchase goods.
In his remarks, Angola's minister of transport, Ricardo de Abreu, described this initiative as a concrete step towards deepening relations between Angola and the People’s Republic of China, countries linked by a strategic partnership built up over decades.
According to the minister, China is currently one of Angola’s main economic partners and one of the most important international players in investment, trade and cooperation with Angola.
“In 2025, the volume of trade between the two countries stood at approximately $20.8 billion (€17.8 billion), confirming the importance of this relationship for both economies,” he said.
He also noted that relations between the two countries were entering a new phase, in which cooperation has gradually shifted away from focusing solely on infrastructure financing, increasingly incorporating productive investment, logistics, technology, industrialisation, value chains and business mobility.
"It is precisely in this context that this new route takes on particular importance. Because the major economic relationships of the 21st century depend increasingly on connectivity (…) on facilitating the movement of businesspeople, investors, tourists, students, knowledge, technology and goods," said the minister, emphasising that Guangzhou is one of the world’s largest industrial, commercial and logistics hubs.
Ricardo de Abreu highlighted that TAAG is undergoing a transformation process that involves fleet modernisation, operational strengthening, improved service standards, greater management discipline, and a clear commitment to the sustainable expansion of international connectivity.
Clóvis Rosa emphasised that the flight is direct, the main reason for establishing this connection, allowing passengers from countries in the region to use TAAG and effectively realising the ‘hub’ concept that Angola aspires to.
The TAAG chair stressed that the company’s transformation process envisages the introduction of new intercontinental routes, providing a direct link to one of China’s most important cities.
“There is significant activity in the textile and technology sectors,” Clóvis Rosa emphasised, noting that, in addition to Chinese travellers, Angolans also seek out this destination to purchase various goods.
The route will launch with one weekly flight, which will increase over time, said the TAAG chair, emphasising that the company’s challenges lie in its transformation, which still has areas for improvement, notably flight cancellations, which they are working “hard” to combat.
NME/ADB // ADB.
Lusa
