KINSHASA, Democratic Republic of Congo (BG) – Air Congo, the Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) newly established national airline, launched operations on Tuesday with its inaugural flight at N’djili International Airport in Kinshasa.
The airline, a joint venture between the Congolese government (holding 51% of shares) and Ethiopian Airlines (49%), aims to enhance air connectivity across the vast Central African nation. Operations began with two Boeing 737-800 aircraft, serving seven domestic airports, including Lubumbashi, Goma, Kisangani, Kolwezi, Kalemie, and Mbujimayi.
During the launch, Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Transport Jean-Pierre Bemba announced plans to expand Air Congo’s fleet.
“Within the next year, four additional Boeing 737-800 aircraft will join the fleet, with two more planned in the following two years,” he said.
A Partnership Aligned with Vision 2035
Ethiopian Airlines, Africa’s largest and most profitable carrier, sees the initiative as part of its Vision 2035 strategy to establish multiple hubs across the continent.
The collaboration with Air Congo complements Ethiopian’s partnerships with ASKY Airlines in Lomé, Malawi Airlines in Lilongwe, and Zambia Airways in Lusaka.
Ethiopian Airlines CEO expressed full commitment to the collaboration, noting its success in similar ventures.
“These partnerships have yielded remarkable results and have contributed to advancing Africa’s aviation industry,” he said.
Building Regional Aviation Capacity
Air Congo aims to improve passenger and cargo transportation, addressing longstanding challenges in domestic travel across the DRC’s vast terrain.
Its launch is expected to provide safer and more reliable air travel while contributing to infrastructure improvements and training for local aviation professionals.
“We are proud of this achievement, which marks a new chapter in the history of Congolese aviation. Air Congo is now ready to offer high-quality services for your travels.” AirCongo tweeted.
With its commitment to regional connectivity, Air Congo’s debut signals a new era for aviation in Central Africa, advancing Ethiopian Airlines’ goal of creating a network of African aviation hubs.
