TAAG suspends Luanda-Lisbon route amid widespread European power outages

April 28, 2025 in Companies, Foreign News, Travel & Tourism by Editor

TAAG Angola Airlines has suspended its services between Luanda and Lisbon following major power failures that caused widespread disruption across several European airports, including Lisbon’s Humberto Delgado Airport.

In a statement released Friday, the national carrier said that the power outage, which severely affected airport operations in Portugal and other European countries, had disrupted the departures and arrivals of numerous flights.

“In this context, Portuguese authorities are cancelling and diverting numerous flights to alternative airports,” the statement said. “TAAG Angola Airlines, in coordination with Angolan authorities and civil aviation entities, has cancelled today’s scheduled services on the Luanda-Lisbon-Luanda route — specifically flights DT650 (Luanda–Lisbon) and DT653 (Lisbon–Luanda).”

TAAG emphasized that the electrical failure posed a significant risk to operational safety, prompting both the airline and aviation regulators to opt for the suspension of services as a precautionary measure. The airline pledged to continue monitoring the situation and to keep affected passengers informed about any further changes via its usual communication channels.

“TAAG Angola Airlines regrets any inconvenience caused to customers and passengers on the affected routes due to this unforeseen event,” the carrier said.

The disruption comes after a massive electrical outage hit Spain and Portugal earlier this today, leaving millions without power. Reports suggest that the cause stemmed from broader issues within the European electric grid.

In Portugal, authorities confirmed a nationwide blackout that began late Monday morning, while similar reports surfaced from Spain. Major airports, including Madrid’s Barajas International Airport and Lisbon’s Humberto Delgado Airport, were forced to close after losing power. Telecommunications were also heavily impacted, with widespread mobile network outages reported across both countries.

Meanwhile, other airports across the Iberian Peninsula have also come to a standstill, with numerous flights from Brussels and other European cities to Spain and Portugal cancelled, leaving hundreds of travelers stranded, according to media reports.