Sonair ceases operations with Boeing aircraft
Sat, 30 Nov 2019 12:29 - Transports
Luanda - The aeronautical branch of the state-owned oil company Sonair will put an end on Nov 30 to all of its domestic commercial flights with the Boeing 737-700 aircraft, which guarantee the air connection between the country's capital and the cities of Cabinda, Catumbela (Beguela Province) and Lubango (Huila), ANGOP learned on Friday.
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Sonair ceases operations with Boeing aircraft
According to a source from this aeronautical operator, unlike the initial decision to cease the three aircraft fleets
(BeechCrafts 1900-D, Twin Otter and Boeing), the Beech aircraft will be retained due to commitments to “Operation Transparency” and to the oil companies.
Likewise, he said, these same planes should continue to secure trips to Cabinda, with six connections, until further political decisions, as TAAG (Angola Airlines Company) has no capacity to meet the demand for this destination.
To this end, fourteen flight crews will be required to ensure operations beyond the scheduled date of their cessation (November 30).
“We, aeronautical technicians, were informed by our management that fourteen crews will remain, of which 14 commanders and 14 co-pilots, as well as five Beech Crafts 1900-D aircraft,” confided the source.
He added, without advancing the timeframe, that the maintenance of the operations is also due to the fact that, so far, the process for the termination of Sonair has not been completed, and also the need to honour the contracts with the oil companies.
Sonair, in its fixed wing component, has two Boeing and four BeechCrafts 1900-Ds, and a seventh standby aircraft. However, it is currently only operating two aircrafts, which were due to perform the last flights on Saturday.
The decision to terminatethe flights is part of the restructuring programme of the National Fuel Society (Sonangol) – the mother company of Sonair - and which is part of the Executive's privatization programme, until 2021, covering a minimum of 200 companies from various sectors, including the public and flag airliner TAAG.