The DRC’s new national airline, Air Congo, hopes to have a fleet of six Boeing 737-800s by the end of the year.

The airline, a joint venture between the DRC government and Ethiopian Airlines, was launched in December 2024.

Ethiopian Airlines, which also has partnerships in Zambia Airways, Togo’s ASKY and Malawi Airlines, delivered Air Congo’s first aircraft – an Airbus A350-1000 – on 4 November 2024, reports Times Aerospace.

‘Since it is a start-up it is difficult to get aircraft so we took out two airplanes from our operations and the first one will go for painting with the airline’s new logo this week, Ethiopian Airlines CEO Mesfin Tasew said at the time.

‘For the first two months it will be domestic. They have a very big domestic network, and after six months we will add two more airplanes.’

He added that when the airline had four aircraft, it would start flying to neighbouring countries.

Ethiopian Airlines holds a 49% share in Air Congo, while the government holds the balance.

14 January 2025
Image: Freepik