Air Congo, a joint venture with 51% ownership by the DRC government and 49% by Ethiopian Airlines, has announced its flight schedule ahead of its launch on December 1, 2024. Each week, the airline will operate 28 domestic flights from Ndjili Airport in Kinshasa, serving six key provinces: Lubumbashi, Goma, Kolwezi, Kalemie, Kisangani, and Mbuji-Mayi.

In an interview with African Aerospace, on November 6, Ethiopian Airlines CEO Mesfin Tasew said the airline is finalizing plans to provide Air Congo two Boeing 737-800. "Since it is a startup, it's difficult to get aircraft. So we have removed two aircraft from our fleet, and the first will be branded with the airline's new logo this week," Tasew told the media. On the same day, Air Congo received its first A350-1000.

During its first six months of operation, Air Congo will focus on domestic flights. After that, Ethiopian Airlines plans to add two more aircraft to expand services to neighboring countries.

Air travel is expected to grow in the DRC as new airlines start operating in the country. In addition to Air Congo's launch, Congo Airways will resume flights on November 10, 2024. South African Airways will also start a direct route between Johannesburg and Lubumbashi.

The launch of Air Congo is likely to create more jobs at Ndjili International Airport, which currently handles about 48 flights daily from various airlines. Ethiopian Airlines and Compagnie Africaine d'Aviation (CAA) operate an average of eight flights per day at the airport.

Georges Auréole Bamba