ERHC Energy Inc (ERHE)

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Sao Tome airline partners seek resumption of Lisbon flight [ 2007-07-27 ]


Sao Tome, Sao Tome and Principe, 27 July - Angola’s TAAG and EuroAtlantic of Portugal, partners in the recently privatized STP Airways, will meet 7 August to discuss the future of the islands’ carrier and resolve the current suspension of its flights to Lisbon, media said.

STP press reported that the two partners in STP Airways want a quick solution to the problems causes by TAAG’s ban from European airspace imposed for safety reasons. This EU blacklisting has disrupted the Angolan carrier’s operations to Europe and prevented it operating STP Airways flights from Sao Tome to Lisbon.

STP Airways CEO Felisbero Neto is currently in Luanda after making unsuccessful attempts to find replacement aircraft to operate the twice-weekly Lisbon service.

The Sao Tomean airline is having difficulties in finding planes to lease in the busy summer period and the small runway of the archipelago’s airport means only certain planes can use it.

TAAG and EuroAtlantic made a successful bid earlier this year to take over the bankrupt Air Sao Tome in a transaction worth US$ 2 million to the islands’ government.

The predecessor of STP Airways ran into difficulties after losing its only aircraft in an accident. (macauhub)