Highlights:

• The academy will train professionals locally.
• Sector faces aging fleet, financial issues at TAAG, and lack of domestic training infrastructure
• New academy part of broader reforms to boost profitability and regional competitiveness

Angola will soon begin construction of a national Aeronautics Academy to train aviation professionals locally, in a move aimed at reducing dependence on foreign institutions and tackling long-standing sectoral challenges.

Rui Carreira, Secretary of State for Civil Aviation, Maritime and Port Sectors, made the announcement on July 21, at a round table in Luanda on the role and profitability of airports in Angola’s economy. The announcement comes amid mounting pressure on the aviation sector, marked by an aging TAAG fleet, ongoing financial difficulties, and limited passenger volumes despite recent infrastructure upgrades.

According to Carreira, the legal framework for the school is already in place, and a call for tenders is ongoing for the appointment of key academy leadership. Construction will begin as soon as the foundation stone is laid.

Experts attending the event welcomed the initiative. Quoted by the Angolan Press Agency, Manuel Chaves, President of Airports Council International for the Africa region (ACI Africa), emphasized that training is critical to the sector's efficiency. He noted that Africa continues to suffer from “a severe lack of specialized aviation training infrastructure despite rising youth interest in the industry.”

The move follows a series of structural reforms. In 2021, Angola established the National Civil Aviation Authority, replacing INAVIC, to enhance regulatory oversight. TAAG Angola Airlines has since partnered with Boeing and the Ministry of Transport to modernize operations, expand the network, and digitize services.

Still, TAAG faces stiff competition from regional giants such as Ethiopian Airlines, Royal Air Maroc, and EgyptAir. The recent inauguration of Dr. António Agostinho Neto International Airport, intended to turn Luanda into a regional hub, has yet to yield expected returns.

The Angolan government views aviation as a pillar of its economic diversification strategy, aiming to position the country as both a regional aviation leader and a prime destination for tourism and investment.

This article was initially published in French by Ingrid Haffiny (intern)

Edited in English by Ola Schad Akinocho