FLEET - Air Congo has leased a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner from Ethiopian Airlines on a wet-lease (ACMI) basis to launch its first long-haul routes.

Photo: Ton Jochems - BRU
 

The service to Brussels (Zaventem) began on July 1, 2026, with regular flights from Kinshasa (N'Djili).

FLEET - Air Congo Receives First Dreamliner Ahead of European Flights debut.

Air Congo has received its first Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner from technical partner and shareholder Ethiopian Airlines, marking a major step in the Democratic Republic of Congo carrier's preparations to launch long-haul flights to Brussels.

 

FLEET - Air Congo to Take Delivery of Two ATR 72-600s

Air Congo is preparing to take delivery of its two new ATR 72-600 turboprop aircraft, already delivered to its technical partner Ethiopian Airlines.

ROUTES - Air Congo plans to launch services from Kinshasa to Cotonou, Entebbe, Dar es Salaam and Johannesburg in late March 2026, with B737-800.

The airline also expects to take delivery in March 2026 of an ATR72-600 for domestic operations. It is the first of two from Ethiopian Airlines
Aviator / Photos: Air Congo

FLEET - Air Congo Secures Third Boeing 737-800

Democratic Republic of Congo’s state-backed carrier Air Congo is set to strengthen its fleet with the addition of a third Boeing 737-800 (EC-LYR)

Air Congo Limited is the proud national carrier of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Backed by a dynamic ownership partnership between the DRC government (51%) and Ethiopian Airlines (49%), the airline was founded in 2024 and began operations on December 1, 2024

Photo:Radim Koblizka

ROUTES - Air Congo is preparing to launch international routes, boosting Central Africa's air network by 2026

Air Congo, the newly created national airline of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), is preparing to expand its operations beyond domestic skies in 2026.

Air Congo is the result of a strategic partnership between the DRC government and Ethiopian Airlines. Air Congo officially began operations in late 2024.

In its initial phase, the airline launched flights to Kinshasa, Lubumbashi, Goma, and Kisangani.

Photo: Air Congo

Air Congo to launch in December

 

The government of the Democratic Republic of Congo has decided to launch a second national carrier that will operate next to Congo Airways. The new airline, called Air Congo, will be a joint-venture between the government (51% ownership) and Ethiopian Airlines (49% ownership). Ethiopian will supply the aircraft as well as operational expertise and management. According to an interview on the website of Sam Chui with the CEO of Ethiopian Airlines, Air Congo will have a fleet that will consist of DHC-8-400s, B737-800s and two B787s.

The launch of the new airline is not without criticism in the country as the government already owns and runs Congo Airways, which was launched in 2014 and is flying since 2015. It has a fleet of two A320s, two DHC-8-400s and two ERJ190s (leased from Kenya Airways). It also has orders with Embraer for two E190-E2s and two E195-E2s, with the first of these set for delivery next year. Despite this, the government is pushing ahead and will run both airlines and has given no indication if they plan to merge or align operations between the two.

The joint-venture in DRC is not the fist one for Ethiopian Airlines as the airline also has a joint-venture in Zambia for Zambia Airways, which is set-up in a similar way with Ethiopian providing aircraft, expertise and management. Zambia Airways is also set to launch in December.
Scramble
Illustration by Ministère des Transports RDC.