According to Fabrício Herbstrith, the project was created in Huambo, in a partnership between shareholders Valdomiro Minoru Dondo, an Angolan-Brazilian businessman already doing business in the same field, and Angolan businessman António Mosquito.
The director-general said, in statements this Tuesday to Lusa news agency, that António Mosquito, a native of Huambo, in the center of the country, had suggested the creation of the company aimed at that province.
"The name came from there and it is a great challenge to take a company named Huambo to the rest of the country," said the director, noting that the deal was launched with 15 buses, with 48 seats, with the prospect of acquiring 25 new vehicles next year.
At this time, the carrier connects from Huambo, the cities of Cuito, Benguela, Sumbe, with stops in Quibala, Lubango and Luanda, with promotional prices until December 18, with a view to attracting customers.
"Since the name is Huambo, it's more difficult to work, people think it's only going to Huambo," said the official, noting that the company started up on Saturday.
The director general of Huambo Expresso also explained that with the restriction on circulation between provinces due to the covid-19 pandemic, several alternatives for passenger transport were created, creating difficulties for buses.
"The buses couldn't make trips and there started to be a lot of private transport, which makes the journey at a cheaper price, but without comfort, quality, safety, without the support we give on the bus, this has greatly reduced the number of passengers, it takes a little longer for people to get used to transporting the bus," he said.
Given the situation and competition from other operators, the capacity currently reaches 60 percent of the bus capacity, between 28 and 30 people per vehicle.
"We created partners, something that does not exist in Angola, all passengers are entitled to a snack, something that no one else has, and with this disclosure we have already had other companies asking for a partnership," he said.
With this investment, 148 direct jobs and 38 indirect jobs were created, with all drivers trained every month and a half for the chosen routes, building seven points of sale, which could reach ten by February of the next year.
Still in the negotiation phase, with the future acquisition of 25 new buses, in 2022, the objective is to supply the northern part of the country, informed the company's director-general, stressing that Huambo "has a very large space for growth".
Asked about the state of the roads, one of the main complaints of transport operators, Fabrício Herbsthith said this is not a problem, only the route that goes to Lubango faces greater difficulties, but is under repair.
"The job creation that is being done at the moment helps, at this time of pandemic, when no one is investing heavily, the investment that the two shareholders have made now is a big challenge", he considered.
