Luanda-Cabinda air route with new fare

The Angolan government said this Monday that there was no removal of state subsidies on the Luanda-Cabinda air route and vice versa, but only the regulation that will result in a new tariff was changed.

“Soon, we will have the publication of a joint executive decree, Ministry of Transport and Ministry of Finance, which will establish a new tariff for this route from Cabinda to Luanda and vice versa”, said this Monday the Minister of Transport of Angola, Ricardo de Abreu, when questioned by Lusa.

Ricardo de Abreu assured that there was no removal of subsidies on tickets for this route, he said that the operation to Cabinda and Luanda continues to be subsidized , arguing that there was only a change in the structure that regulates this same subsidy this Monday.

“In practice, we are talking about a presidential decree that dates back to 2017 and over the past eight years we have had several elements that today contribute to the price, even subsidized, not being the most appropriate for either the State, which subsidizes, or for the operators, who benefit or who operate that same route”, he explained, without going into details.

“Therefore, there is no change in the principle of the subsidy for Cabinda”, insisted the minister, highlighting that the Angolan Government “is perfectly aware of the need to reduce the insularity” of Cabinda, northern Angola.

To reduce the insularity of Cabinda, a region with geographical discontinuity with the remaining 20 provinces of Angola, “air transport is fundamental”, observed Ricardo de Abreu, noting that state subsidies had a “positive impact” at local level.

“What we are going to do is adjust the price that is possible for the operator within a sustainable framework,” said the minister.

“If we look at the numbers today, from the implementation of the subsidy to this moment, we need to understand the positive impact that this has had on Cabinda and its population, because today Cabinda is our second point of reference for air traffic in Angola, so this is the result of the subsidy”, he pointed out.

Ricardo de Abreu was speaking this Monday on the sidelines of the opening of the National Conference on Angola's Preparation for the World Maritime Organization (IMO) audit, which takes place between this Monday and Tuesday in Luanda.

Last June, the Angolan President ordered the end of the regime granting subsidies to air fares on the Luanda-Cabinda route, a measure, according to the presidential decree, that aims to maintain the balance between the promotion of connectivity and territorial cohesion.

João Lourenço justified the measure adopted by stating that the current socio-economic context and the adoption of a prudential approach recommend a phased and planned transition, which allows dealing with the challenges and impacts associated with the “partial reduction of the subsidy until its complete elimination, allowing a balance between the promotion of connectivity and territorial cohesion, the guarantee that the target beneficiary is the effective beneficiary and the responsible use of public resources”.

The presidential measure generated several criticisms from civil society and the people in Cabinda.

Given the geographical discontinuity of the province of Cabinda with the rest of the country, the mobility of citizens to the province and vice versa has been the subject of complaints, especially in air connections, often marked by suspension and delays in flights, which has generated criticism.

The average cost of a round trip to Cabinda is around 320 euros.