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.Air Congo is born Airliner World February 2025 page 12
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 CountryCityAirportNotesRefsBelgiumBrusselsBrussels AirportBeninCotonouCotonou Cadjehoun International AirportCameroonDoualaDouala International AirportDemocratic Republic of the CongoBeniBeni-Mavivi AirportBuniaBunia AirportGbadoliteGbadolite AirportGemenaGemena Airport Goma Goma International Airport IsiroIsiro-Matari Airport Kalemie Kalemie Airport Kananga Kananga Airport Kinshasa N'djili International Airport Kisangani Kisangani Bangoka International Airport Kolwezi Kolwezi International Airport Lubumbashi Lubumbashi International Airport Mbuji-Mayi Mbuji-Mayi International Airport Mbandaka Mbandaka Airport Muanda Muanda Airport EthiopiaAddis AbabaBole International Airport Operated by Ethiopian AirlinesFranceParisCharles de Gaulle AirportSouth AfricaJohannesburgO. R. Tambo International Airport
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 , Air Congo operates the following aircraft:
Aircraft Number Orders Passengers Notes J Y TotalATR 72-6001—Boeing 737-8003—Total4
Fleet development Air Congo aimed to operate a fleet of overall six aircraft within a year. Former fleet , Air Congo operated 2 ATR 72-600, 3 Boeing 737-800 and 1 Boeing 787-8
See also Congo Airways
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