On Dec. 13, Angolan airline TAAG Angola Airlines launched direct flights to Beijing, a company spokesperson said.

The charter flights will be offered twice a week with a Boeing 777-200ER.

A source from TAAG Angola Airlines said that, if the route was profitable and the reaction to flights favourable, the airline would make the flights scheduled.

Last year the Angolan authorities issued over 22,000 visas to Chinese citizens travelling to Angola.

The new route was announced at the same time as TAAG Angola Airlines suspended its flights to Addis Ababa, in Ethiopia, and Pointe Noire, in the Congo.

TAAG Angola Airlines is currently banned from flying in European airspace due to safety issues.

In November the Angolan government sacked the company's board of directors and announced the creation of a new airline to replace TAAG Angola Airlines.

TAAG Angola Airlines' losses in 2007 were in excess of US$70 million and the airline was 122nd of a list of 124 international airlines.

Lufthansa, British Airways, Brussels Airlines, Air France, TAP Portugal and South African Airways (SAA) fly to Angola weekly.

As of 2009 US company Delta Air Lines also plans to fly to Angola.

Photograph: TAAG Angola Airlines' first charter flight service to Beijing arrived at Beijing Capital International Airport (BCIA) on Dec. 13, 2008. Photo contributed by CARNOC.com message board member.