Angola powers its ambition to become a global transport hub with new digital border upgrade

Border authorities worldwide are under growing pressure to manage rising passenger numbers while strengthening security. To meet this challenge, Angola has taken a proactive approach with the deployment of SITA’s Advance Passenger Information and Passenger Name Record Gateway (API PNR Gateway) at Dr. António Agostinho Neto International Airport, supported by SITA’s Passenger Information Unit (PIU) consultancy services. This will strengthen Angola’s operational and data-governance frameworks, ensuring these systems deliver long-term value. The initiative is complemented by a new Passenger Information Monitoring and Management center in Luanda, creating a foundation for faster decision-making and improved security outcomes.

The new system allows airlines to send two types of passenger data to authorities before departure: Advance Passenger Information (API), which includes passport and identity details, and Passenger Name Record (PNR), which contains the passenger’s itinerary and booking information. Bringing this information together in one place gives authorities an earlier and more accurate view of who is travelling to the country and, with SITA’s guidance, helps establish the processes and analytical frameworks needed to turn this data into faster and more informed decision making.

By combining API and PNR data, the system helps ANAC identify irregularities, detect suspicious travel patterns, and prevent unauthorized travelers from boarding flights bound for Angola. It also supports compliance with international requirements set by the United Nations Security Council, the International Civil Aviation Organization, and the European Union.

The State Secretary for Civil Aviation, Maritime and Port Sectors, Rui Carreira, stated that “the inauguration of the National Command and Control Center marks a historic moment for Angola. This strategic investment strengthens the security of our borders and consolidates the country’s position as a modern and competitive international transport hub.”

ANAC President Amélia Kuvíngua added: “The system allows us to act preventively and in a coordinated manner, manage migratory flows more effectively, and strengthen our preparedness against transnational crime. With SITA’s specialized support, Angola now has robust capabilities to operate these systems with confidence and efficiency.”

The deployment is part of Angola’s national API PNR program, which also includes the creation of a new Passenger Information Monitoring and Management center in Luanda. This center will serve as the central hub for the country’s border operations, bringing together multiple workstations where specialists can monitor and analyze API and PNR data in real time. By viewing the information in an integrated way, teams can coordinate faster responses to potential risks or incidents.

Located next to the Passenger Information Monitoring and Management center is a dedicated Data Center with high processing and storage capacity. The close proximity of both facilities ensures secure, uninterrupted communication between systems and supports rapid analysis of large volumes of information. The Passenger Information Monitoring and Management center is scheduled for inauguration on 26 November 2025, marking an important milestone for Angola’s border modernization efforts.

“Governments across Africa are accelerating digitalization to keep pace with rising travel demand, and Angola is taking clear steps in leading the way,” said Pedro Alves, SVP of Borders at SITA. “Angola is showing how border authorities can lead the way into a more digital and connected future. When countries combine Advance Passenger Information and Passenger Name Record capabilities with a national Passenger Information Monitoring and Management center, they create an operational model that others in the industry can learn from. It reduces risks for airlines and authorities, improves predictability at the border, and supports the kind of seamless experience passengers now expect. This is the direction the global travel industry is moving toward, and Angola is putting the right digital foundations in place to be part of that future.”

These investments contribute to Angola’s broader ambition to become a major global transport hub. The new Dr. António Agostinho Neto International Airport can handle up to 15 million passengers a year and is linked to extensive road, rail, and port infrastructure, strengthening national and regional connectivity. Visa free entry for citizens of 98 countries, including 14 in Africa, is also attracting more visitors, while international platforms such as CNN Travel have highlighted Angola’s landscapes and cultural heritage.

By adopting SITA’s API PNR Gateway and investing in its national Passenger Information Monitoring and Management center, Angola is putting in place the digital border infrastructure needed to support secure travel, economic development, and its vision of becoming a globally connected transport hub.