African carrier TAAG Angola Airlines has shared its contingency plan after its pilots announced a strike for next week. The airline will immediately enter a three-day negotiation period with the SPLA pilots union and make key changes to its schedule to minimize disruption.

TAAG to negotiate with pilots

Having been notified that its pilots will conduct a strike next week, TAAG Angola Airlines has moved swiftly to avoid this scenario by immediately launching new negotiations.

The Sindicato de Pilotos de Linha Aérea (SPLA) pilots union has informed TAAG that it will launch a strike on October 7th. In response, a three-day negotiation period will begin on October 3rd and conclude on October 5th.

TAAG said,

"TAAG Angola Airlines hereby informs all stakeholders that it has received a strike notification from the pilot's union effective October 7th. In response, TAAG immediately created a contingency plan to mitigate the impact of an operational downtime scenario. Nevertheless, a three-day round of negotiations is scheduled where both parties will seek an agreement."

The pilots union formally submitted its demands in July, but little progress has been made between the two parties since then despite several meetings. TAAG has claimed that any agreement must be "within the boundaries of the company ́s current financial context."

New flight plans

TAAG Angola Airlines has updated its schedule on October 7th as it faces the prospect of flying without many of its pilots.

TAAG said,

"Following industry’s best practice and in line with Angolan legislation, TAAG is already implementing a contingency plan to minimize potential impact. TAAG's Management Board is focused on ensuring minimal impact to our customers’ travel plans, therefore we are quickly addressing the issue and have created a flight plan that will ensure minimum disruption and maximum connectivity during the strike."

The carrier will operate a reduced domestic and international schedule next Friday, retaining key international destinations like Lisbon, Madrid, São Paulo and Cape Town.

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About TAAG Angola Airlines

TAAG Angola Airlines is the flag carrier of Angola that recently celebrated its 84th year in operation. The airline was founded under the name Divisao dos Transportes Aereos (DTA) in 1938 before adopting its current name in 1973.

TAAG flies to 12 international destinations alongside an extensive domestic network, connecting Angolans to destinations as far as Brazil and Cuba. Having been unbanned from European airspace in 2019, TAAG launched its first new European route in 11 years this summer with the addition of Madrid to its network.

The airline's fleet consists of over 20 aircraft, including six Boeing 737s, eight Boeing 777s and six DHC Dash 8s. TAAG recently revealed that it received positive results in its latest safety audit with IATA, clearing the way for the airline to have its Air Operator's Certificate (AOC) renewed.

Have you ever flown with TAAG Angola Airlines? Do you see the airline resolving its dispute with pilots? Let us know in the comments.