A first flight from Dar es Salaam landed at Kindu Airport in Maniema province on June 17, 2026, after a stopover in Kisangani. The inaugural flight was operated by a MASCO Airline Boeing 737-200.

The arrival marks an important step in efforts to establish an air connection between Maniema and Tanzania. However, it does not yet mean that a regular service has been fully established with a stable flight schedule.

MASCO Airline Chief Executive Georges Oyema said the carrier could gradually increase flight frequencies depending on cargo demand. The long-term viability of the route will therefore depend on market demand, regulatory approvals, freight volumes and the ability of businesses to make sustained use of the new service.

Commercial Corridor

For Maniema, the first flight nevertheless represents a positive development. In a province that faces significant geographic isolation, the launch of an air route to Dar es Salaam could provide a useful alternative for traders, importers and companies operating in the mining industry.

Maniema Vice Governor Corneille Katisamba said the route could facilitate trade with Tanzania and support local businesses.

Over the past several months, provincial authorities, the Federation of Enterprises of the Congo (FEC) in Maniema and members of the local business community have been working to establish an air link between Kindu and Dar es Salaam. Their objective is to improve the province’s connectivity and strengthen trade links with East Africa’s leading logistics hub.

In March, a delegation comprising Maniema provincial authorities, FEC representatives and local business leaders traveled to Tanzania to discuss the project. Following the visit, Tanzanian authorities granted preliminary approval, subject to the completion of the required administrative and technical procedures.

Logistics Option

For businesses in Maniema, the value of the connection lies in the possibility of gaining more direct access to Dar es Salaam without relying on transit routes that are often considered lengthy and costly. The Tanzanian city is home to the country’s principal port and serves as a major logistics hub for East Africa and a gateway for trade with parts of Central Africa.

The FEC in Maniema has presented the route as a means of reducing the province’s economic isolation. Its representatives have repeatedly stressed that Maniema continues to face transport infrastructure challenges that complicate the supply of goods to local markets and the movement of products to external destinations.

Businesses also view the connection as an opportunity to shorten freight transit times, reduce logistical bottlenecks and facilitate trade flows between Maniema and Tanzania.

Boaz Kabeya