Air Congo (2024-)
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 Air Congo Boeing 787-8 | |||||||
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| Founded | 2024 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Commenced operations | 1 December 2024 | ||||||
| Hubs | N'djili Airport | ||||||
| Fleet size | 7 | ||||||
| Destinations | 20 | ||||||
Owner | |||||||
| Headquarters | Kinshasa, DR Congo | ||||||
| Key people | Mesfin Biru Weldegeorgis (Director General)[1] | ||||||
| Total equity | US$ 40 million[2] | ||||||
| Website | www | ||||||
Air Congo S.A. is the national flag carrier airline of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, headquartered in Kinshasa and operating from its primary hub at N'djili International Airport. Launched on December 1, 2024, in partnership with Ethiopian Airlines, the airline operates flights to 20 destinations across Central Africa, West Africa, Southern Africa, and Europe.[3][4]
Formed to replace the state-owned and previous flag carrier Congo Airways, which had been banned from flying into the European Union,[5][6] Air Congo's regional network spans major domestic destinations and key African cities, including Lubumbashi, Douala, Cotonou, and Johannesburg. Internationally, long-haul operations to European destinations began with a route from Kinshasa to Brussels. This expanding route framework is designed to integrate the Democratic Republic of the Congo more deeply into global and regional aviation networks.
Destinations
[edit]
Air Congo intends to expand its fleet to eight Boeing 737s and two Boeing 787s to service domestic, regional, and international routes, including Paris, Brussels, Dubai, Johannesburg, Luanda, and Dar es Salaam. The airline expanded its network in early 2026, announcing service to Cotonou, Douala, Johannesburg, and Kampala. Its inaugural international flight connected Kinshasa and Johannesburg (via Lubumbashi) on March 22 with the arrival of a third Boeing 737-800 jus days prior, followed by the launch of flights to Cotonou via Douala on March 28.[13][14]
In June 2026, the airline finalized its initial plans for international flight operations. On July 1, 2026, Air Congo commenced weekday flights to Brussels Airport using an Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 787 Dreamliner secured via an ACMI wet-lease agreement.[7] Delivered a day prior, the aircraft's maiden voyage as Air Congo flight 4H/ET98 marked the historic return of a Congolese carrier to European airspace after an 18-year absence, following the termination of Hewa Bora Airways' European route on 11 April 2008.
Fleet
[edit]As of July 2026[update], Air Congo operates the following aircraft:[15]
| Aircraft | Number | Orders | Passengers | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| J | Y | Total | ||||
| ATR 72-600 | 2 | — | Leased from Ethiopian Airlines[7][16] | |||
| Boeing 737-800 | 3 | — | ||||
| Boeing 787-8 | 2 | — | ||||
| Total | 7 | 0 | ||||
Air Congo aimed to operate a fleet of overall six aircraft within a year.[3] The goal was achieved 1 year and 7 months after the airline commenced operations.
Accidents and incidents
[edit]In December 2025 an Air Congo Flight 78 Boeing 737-800, experienced an operational issue when the aircraft arrived at Kindu Airport without the necessary ground support. Due to a complete absence of mobile terminal equipment and passenger stairs, travelers were forced to evacuate the aircraft by jumping directly from the cabin door.[17]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ↑ Nelly Fualdes and Romain Gras (25 September 2024). "DRC: what we know about Air Congo, the future national flag". jeuneafrique. Retrieved 3 December 2024.
- ↑ "Aerial : Air Congo launch in december 2024". Africa News Agency. 27 September 2024. Retrieved 13 November 2024.
- 1 2 "Air Congo set for December launch". Times Aerospace. 6 November 2024. Retrieved 13 November 2024.
- ↑ Air Congo is born Airliner World February 2025 page 12
- ↑ "Commission updates EU Air Safety List: all air carriers from Kyrgyzstan removed, Air Express Algeria added". Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport. 9 June 2026. Archived from the original on 29 June 2026.
- ↑ "EU air safety list" (PDF). European Commission. 9 June 2026. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 June 2026.
- 1 2 3 Addis Insight (2026-06-08). "Air Congo to Launch Kinshasa-Brussels Flights via Ethiopian Airlines Partnership". Addis Insight. Retrieved 2026-06-09.
- 1 2 "Air Congo's official Instagram". www.instagram.com/. Retrieved 2026-02-25.
- 1 2 "Envolez-vous vers de nouveaux horizons dès le 20 avril !". www.instagram.com. 2026-04-08. Retrieved 2026-04-08.
- 1 2 "Air Congo/Ethiopian Airlines Outlines Planned Network From Dec 2024". Aeroroutes. 11 November 2024. Retrieved 13 November 2024.
- ↑ "Air Congo expands regional network amid ATR72 delays". ch-aviation. Archived from the original on 2026-03-03. Retrieved 2026-03-08.
- ↑ "Air Congo makes maiden landing in South Africa plans other trips to Tanzania from April 2026". The Tanzania Times. 2026-03-22. Retrieved 2026-03-23.
- ↑ "Air Congo Touches Down at OR Tambo: New Dawn for SA-DRC Connectivity". 2026-03-23. Retrieved 2026-03-23.
- ↑ cajnews (2026-03-23). "Air Congo makes landmark flight to South Africa - CAJ News Africa". Retrieved 2026-03-23.
- ↑ "Global Airline Guide 2025 - Air Congo". Airliner World: 57. September 2025.
- ↑ Harper, Lewis. "Ethiopian to lease two ATRs for Air Congo as it builds MRO capabilities". Flight Global. Retrieved 2025-12-10.
- ↑ Bailey, Joanna (2025-12-19). "Air Congo passengers had to jump from the door of a Boeing 737". AGN. Retrieved 2026-01-10.