Angola's national airline TAAG assured passengers on Monday, 12 October, that a strike by aircraft maintenance technicians will force the cancellation of only two flights per day through Thursday. The carrier activated a contingency plan in response to industrial action called by the Aircraft Maintenance Technicians Union (STMA) across four scheduled periods, the first running from 11 to 15 October.

In a statement cited by Lusa, TAAG said that on the first day of the strike, Sunday, it operated all 37 scheduled flights "without recording any cancellations."

For the remaining days of the current stoppage through Thursday, the airline "expects to operate between 94.9% and 95.3% of scheduled flights, with only two cancellations forecast per day."

"This result reflects the effectiveness of the contingency plan implemented by the company and, above all, the professionalism, competence and sense of responsibility of its employees, whose commitment has been decisive in ensuring operational continuity, maintaining passenger safety as an absolute and non-negotiable priority," the statement read.

TAAG's management assured that "no measure aimed at ensuring operational continuity will be allowed to compromise the safety standards required of commercial aviation."

"All flights operated comply with the maintenance, airworthiness and safety requirements established by the competent authorities, without any relaxation of applicable technical procedures," the airline added.

The company also clarified that passengers affected during the strike period — with travel booked between 11 and 15 October and tickets originally issued on or before 10 October — may request booking changes or refunds until 15 November.

TAAG reiterated that it remains "available for dialogue with the STMA, in the search for balanced and sustainable solutions that value professionals and safeguard the company's commitments to passengers."

The strike follows a breakdown in wage negotiations between the airline and the STMA. TAAG has proposed a 20% salary increase, but the union is holding out for a cumulative rise of 100% by December 2027.

The strike notice covers four work stoppages: 11–15 October, 6–10 November, 5–10 December, and 19–23 December 2026.