Air Congo launched by the Democratic Republic of Congo and Ethiopian Airlines
December 18, 2024
Ethiopian Airlines announced its partnership with the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) for the establishment of Air Congo on 16 December. The DRC government holds a 51% stake in the new airline, with Ethiopian Airlines owning 49%. The establishment of Air Congo is intended as a first step in revitalizing Congo’s moribund civil aviation sector, aligning with President Félix Tshisekedi’s vision of improving connectivity and stimulating economic growth.
The new initiative aligns with Ethiopian Airlines’ Vision 2035 strategy, under which Ethiopian has started to establish multiple hubs across Africa. The creation of Air Congo complements the partnerships that Ethiopian Airlines has established with ASKY Airlines in Lomé (Togo), Malawi Airlines in Lilongwe (Malawi), and Zambia Airways in Lusaka (Zambia).
Mesfin Tasew, the CEO of the Ethiopian Airlines Group said that: “The launch of Air Congo is a significant step in our strategic plan to collaborate with African governments and enhance air transport across the continent. This partnership will provide greater connectivity for the DRC and Central Africa, facilitating investment, trade, and tourism, thereby contributing to socio-economic growth of the region. We extend our heartfelt thanks to the DRC government, all stakeholders, and my esteemed colleagues for their commitment and collaboration in making this partnership a success.”
Ethiopian Airlines will serve as a proven model for the new airline, and will also provide leadership and some key personnel, establishing a local flying school to provide advanced training programmes, and a Boeing-certified maintenance facility to provide modern maintenance capabilities. Ethiopian Airlines will train Congolese nationals as cockpit crew, cabin crew and ground-support personnel.
Air Congo’s operations began using a pair of Boeing 737-800 aircraft (9S-AGA and 9S-AOA), both leased from Ethiopian Airlines for an initial period of six months.
Air Congo is initially serving Congo’s domestic market, operating between seven airports within the DRC. The airline started by mounting daily flights from Kinshasa to Lubumbashi, Goma, Kisangani, and Mbuji-Mayi, with additional routes to Kalemie and Kolwezi on a less than daily basis, but several times a week. Air Congo hopes to increase competition on domestic routes, reducing Congo’s reliance on private operators, and establishing Kinshasa as a central African hub.
The airline plans to expand its network to regional hubs in neighbouring countries, including Johannesburg, and Luanda operating a six aircraft fleet by June 2025. Subsequently, Air Congo plans to connect Kinshasa to international destinations, including Paris, Brussels, and Dubai. The aircraft fleet is projected to grow to a total of eight Boeing 737s and two Boeing 787 Dreamliners.
It has been said that Air Congo’s rise will not be at the expense of Congo Airways, which resumed operations in November after a long hiatus.
