**Turkish Airlines Discontinues Luanda Route Amid Struggles of New Airport**
*Published on 14/09/2026 - 20:44 GMT+2*
Turkish Airlines has officially removed Luanda from its flight schedule, marking a significant development in the aviation landscape of Angola. This decision comes as part of a broader trend, with several international airlines exiting the Angolan capital since the opening of the new Dr António Agostinho Neto International Airport in November 2023.
The Istanbul-based airline announced the permanent cessation of its Luanda route earlier this month, alongside the discontinuation of services to Juba, Kinshasa, Libreville, and Lusaka. Initially, Turkish Airlines had suspended these routes temporarily, citing rising fuel costs as a primary concern. The airline had previously operated a triangular service through Kinshasa, providing Luanda passengers with connections to various destinations across Europe, Asia, and beyond via Istanbul.
The new airport, designed to accommodate up to 15 million passengers annually, has struggled to attract travelers since its inauguration. In 2025, the facility managed to serve only 756,028 passengers, far below its intended capacity. Recent figures indicate that as of February 24, 2026, the total number of passengers since the first domestic flight in November 2024 reached approximately 1.09 million, which included 444,212 international travelers.
The challenges faced by the new airport have been compounded by the departures of other international carriers. Brussels Airlines, for instance, ended its Luanda service on March 25, 2025, as part of a restructuring within the Lufthansa Group, redirecting passengers to Lufthansa’s direct flights from Frankfurt to Luanda. Similarly, TAAG Angola Airlines suspended its Madrid route in January 2024 and later removed a planned return from its schedule. Iberia has not resumed its flights to Luanda since suspending them in 2016, instead opting to codeshare with TAAG since 2022, a partnership that has now also been terminated.
South African Airways (SAA) has similarly limited its operations, only placing its code on TAAG-operated flights, further highlighting the challenges faced by the Angolan aviation market.
The new airport, located approximately 45 kilometers from the city center, was constructed by the Chinese state-owned company AVIC. Despite the government's aspirations for the facility to become a regional hub, the current passenger numbers suggest a significant gap between expectations and reality. In December 2025, ATO's Director of Planning and Quality, Vissolela Chivunda, expressed optimism, stating that the airport anticipated handling around 4 million passengers in 2026. However, the recent trend of airline exits raises questions about the feasibility of achieving such targets.
Despite these challenges, Luanda remains accessible through several airlines, including TAP Air Portugal, Air France, Lufthansa, Royal Air Maroc, Ethiopian Airlines, Qatar Airways, Airlink, and TAAG. Additionally, Compagnie Africaine d'Aviation has recently initiated two weekly flights from Kinshasa, which began on August 21, 2026.
As the aviation industry continues to evolve, the situation in Luanda serves as a reminder of the complexities involved in establishing a successful air travel hub, particularly in regions with emerging infrastructure. The future of the Dr António Agostinho Neto International Airport and its ability to attract and retain international carriers remains uncertain as the industry navigates these challenges.