[2020-01-22] Sonair transfers workers to Angola’s flagship airline

Source: Macauhub

One hundred and thirty employees of the Sonair airline will become staff of Angolan flagship carrier TAAG, the chairman of the subsidiary of Angola’s national oil company Sonangol said on Tuesday, in Luanda.

Rúben da Costa, who was speaking on the sidelines of the presentation ceremony of two newly acquired helicopters, said that negotiations between the two companies were practically concluded and “the transfer of 90 workers is already guaranteed, and the situation of another 40 is being analysed.”

The group of employees to be placed with TAAG, according to Rúben da Costa quoted by the Angop news agency, includes pilots, mechanics, operational staff, flight crew, and social support staff, among others.

The chairman also said that in 2019 Sonair had negotiated with TAAG for the transfer of two Boeing 737-700s, which until 30 November operated commercial flights between Luanda and the cities of Cabinda, Catumbela (Beguela) and Lubango (Huíla).

The decision to cancel those routes is included in the restructuring programme for Sonangol, which is included in the government’s privatisation schedule up to 2021, covering a minimum of 200 companies from various sectors, including TAAG, one of the competitors in this segment.

Sonair is a Sonangol company and its fixed-wing arm has a fleet of three BeechCraft 1900-D aircraft, in addition to two de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otters, currently not being used.