Air Congo (2024)

Air Congo

Air Congo Boeing 787-8
IATA ICAO Call sign 4H DRC LEO PARC
Founded	2024
Commenced operations	1 December 2024; 22 months ago (2024-12-01)
Hubs	N'djili Airport
Fleet size	7
Destinations	20
Owner	DRC Government (51%) Ethiopian Airlines (49%)
Headquarters	Kinshasa, DR Congo
Key people	Mesfin Biru Weldegeorgis (director general)
Total equity	US$ 40 million
Website	www.air-congo.com/en/home

Air Congo S.A. is the national flag carrier airline of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, headquartered in Kinshasa and operating from its primary hub at N'djili International Airport. Launched on 1 December 2024, in partnership with Ethiopian Airlines, the airline operates flights to 20 destinations across Central Africa, West Africa, Southern Africa, and Europe.

Formed to replace the state-owned and previous flag carrier Congo Airways, which had been banned from flying into the European Union, Air Congo's regional network spans major domestic destinations and key African cities, including Lubumbashi, Douala, Cotonou, and Johannesburg. Internationally, long-haul operations to European destinations began with a route from Kinshasa to Brussels. This expanding route framework is designed to integrate the Democratic Republic of the Congo more deeply into global and regional aviation networks.

Destinations

Air Congo intends to expand its fleet to eight Boeing 737s and two Boeing 787s to service domestic, regional, and international routes, including Paris, Brussels, Dubai, Johannesburg, Luanda, and Dar es Salaam. The airline expanded its network in early 2026, announcing service to Cotonou, Douala, Johannesburg, and Kampala. Its inaugural international flight connected Kinshasa and Johannesburg (via Lubumbashi) on 22 March with the arrival of a third Boeing 737-800 just days prior, followed by the launch of flights to Cotonou via Douala on 28 March.

In June 2026, the airline finalized its initial plans for international flight operations. On 1 July 2026, Air Congo commenced weekday flights to Brussels Airport using an Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 787 Dreamliner secured via an ACMI wet-lease agreement. Delivered a day prior, the aircraft's maiden voyage as Air Congo flight 4H/ET98 marked the return of a Congolese carrier to European airspace after an 18-year absence, following the termination of Hewa Bora Airways' European route on 11 April 2008. The launch of European routes mark a return to direct competition with established European carriers such as Brussels Airlines and Air France.

Fleet

As of July 2026^[update], Air Congo operates the following aircraft:

See also

• Congo Airways

References