TAAG Angola Airlines (TAAG), the west African country’s national flag carrier, has announced that it is to acquire four next-generation Boeing 787 Dreamliner widebody airliners. This is the first step in the airline’s plan to modernise its current fleet of widebody airliners.

“Our goal is to work with the best manufacturers in the world towards a multi-type fleet, in order to ensure we have the appropriate aeroplanes for each flight typology, namely our intercontinental connections,” explained TAAG CEO Eduardo Fairen. “The 787 option suits our intent for modern, size-wise and efficient equipment able to progressively replace our current widebody fleet and provide our customers with an improved flight experience.”

The airline, founded in 1938, currently operates routes to 13 international and 12 domestic destinations. Internationally, TAAG operates flights to a number of African countries, including South Africa (both Johannesburg and Cape Town). Intercontinentally, it operates flights to Belgium, Germany and Portugal, in Europe; and to Brazil and Cuba, in the Americas.

“The 787 Dreamliner will enable TAAG Angola Airlines to open new routes and expand their international network,” affirmed Boeing VP commercial marketing and sales Africa Anbessie Yitbarek. “The Dreamliner’s market-leading efficiency and passenger comfort will advance the carrier’s fleet modernisation plans.”

The airline operates a fleet of both jet and turboprop aircraft. The jet fleet is composed entirely of Boeing types, subdivided into eight widebody and seven single-aisle models. The single-aisle portion of the fleet is composed solely of 737-700 airliners. The widebody fleet is further subdivided into three 777-200ERs and five 777-300ERs (ER, in both cases, standing for Extended Range). (De Havilland Canada Dash 8-Q400s comprise the carrier’s turboprop fleet.)

The next-generation, largely-composite structure, 787, cuts fuel burn and emissions by 25%, in comparison to previous generation types. It has been used to launch more than 370 new nonstop routes, worldwide, since it entered revenue service in 2011.

Boeing forecasts that African air traffic will grow at 7.4% over the next 20 years. This will be the third-highest regional growth rate and higher than the forecast global growth rate of 6.1%.