Those facing emergencies, such as bereavements or business matters, and needing to travel between Cabinda and Luanda this month or next may have to resort to unofficial channels, known as “muambeiros,” to secure plane tickets at exorbitant prices exceeding 100,000 kwanzas, equivalent to 100 euros.
This situation has left citizens like Maria Poba frustrated, citing high demand and limited supply.
“Traveling today is difficult. All because TAAG is the only airline operating, which makes it very challenging,” she complained in an interview with DW. “It’s the airline most people prefer, so they should implement more flights,” she added.
According to locals, frequent flight cancellations on the Cabinda-Luanda route have become routine. Passenger dissatisfaction on this route is growing.
“Fake” Tickets
The most recent incident occurred a few days ago when a TAAG flight was canceled, with the airline claiming the tickets were counterfeit, as one woman recounted in a video shared on social media.
“They’re saying the tickets we bought are fake. But we purchased them through TAAG. We all work hard to earn money to buy these tickets,” she stated.
The company’s management, through commercial administrator Miguel Carneiro, cited operational constraints and rescheduled the flight for Friday, November 22. “Of the 74 passengers initially scheduled, 45 were informed, but unfortunately, there was a communication failure regarding the other 29 passengers,” he explained.
New Airport, Superior Service?
During a recent working visit to the Cabinda province, Miguel Carneiro assured that transferring flights between Cabinda and Luanda to the new international airport would enable the airline to deliver excellent service to passengers, offering more efficient and modern customer service.
“This is a commercial challenge. It’s something being considered and discussed in various forums: how to make the Cabinda market increasingly accessible and competitive for passengers and transportation,” he guaranteed.
DW, 21/11/2024
