Congo Airways

Congo Airways S.A. is the state-owned flag carrier airline of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). With a paid-up capital of US$90 million, it started operations on 20 October 2015, using two Airbus A320 aircraft acquired from Alitalia.

Congo Airways
IATA ICAO Callsign
8Z CGA CONGO AIR
Founded15 August 2014 (2014-08-15)
Commenced operations20 October 2015 (2015-10-20)
HubsN'djili Airport
Fleet size4
Destinations10
Parent companyDemocratic Republic of the Congo
HeadquartersKinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Key people
  • Louise Mayuma Kasende​ (chairperson)[1]
  • Desire Bantu (CEO)[2]
  • Xavier Bruyndonckx​ (COO)
Websitecongoairways.com

The company initially served Congolese destinations from its base at N'djili Airport in Kinshasa, and has plans to increase its fleet and serve regional and international markets.[3][4]

History

Congo Airways was created on 15 August 2014 at the government's instigation, and made its first flight on 20 October 2015.[5] Air France Consulting provided technical assistance to the airline.[3]

On 10 December 2019, Congo Airways signed a $194.4 million deal to acquire two E175 jets from Embraer. The jets are expected to be delivered in Q4 2020.[6]

On 26 May 2020, Congo Airways have converted the firm order made in December 2019 for two E175 aircraft, with purchase rights for two more, into a firm order for two E190-E2 jets, with purchase rights for a further two. The jets are expected to be delivered in Q2 2022.[7]

Corporate affairs

Ownership

The airline is 100% state-controlled, being owned by the Government of the DRC.[8] Shareholders are reported to be various government agencies: the Intermodal Freight Management Office (OGEFREM), the National Social Security Institute (INSS), the General of Quarries and Mines (Gécamines), the Congolese Transport and Ports Society (SCTP), the Industry Promotion Fund (FPI) and the Airway Authority (RVA).[5]

Congo Airways does not appear to have published its accounts; recent available figures (largely from AFRAA reports, which contain inconsistencies) are shown below (for years ending 31 December):

2016 2017 2018
Turnover (US$m) 40
Net profit
Number of employees (at year end) 365 326 430
Number of passengers (000s) 210 358 359
Passenger load factor (%) 71 62
Number of aircraft (at year end) 4 6 4
Notes/sources [9][4] [10] [8]

Destinations

As of June 2016, the company operates domestic routes from its hub at N'djili Airport in Kinshasa to Goma, Kindu, Kananga, Kisangani, Lubumbashi, Mbandaka and Mbuji-Mayi. In January 2016, the company announced that it wanted to expand services to smaller airports such as Beni and Buta Zega and internationally to Luanda, Pointe Noire, Addis Ababa, Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta, Lagos, and Abidjan. Long-term plans included flights to Dubai Int'l and Guangzhou.[11] In May 2018 the airline commenced flights to Douala and Johannesburg-OR Tambo airport.[12]

Country City Airport Notes Refs
CameroonDoualaDouala International Airport—[13]
Democratic Republic of CongoGomaGoma Airport—[13]
Democratic Republic of CongoKanangaKananga Airport—[13]
Democratic Republic of CongoKinduKindu Airport—[13]
Democratic Republic of CongoKinshasaKinshasa–N'djiliHub[lower-alpha 1][13]
Democratic Republic of CongoKisanganiKisangani Airport—[13]
Democratic Republic of CongoMbandakaMbandaka Airport—[13]
Democratic Republic of CongoMbuji-MayiMbuji-Mayi Airport—[13]
Democratic Republic of CongoMoandaMuanda Airport—[14]
South AfricaJohannesburgOR Tambo International Airport—[15]
  1. International Hub

Fleet

The Congo Airways fleet consists of the following aircraft as of August 2019:[16]

Congo Airways fleet
Aircraft In service Orders Passengers Notes
C Y Total
Airbus A320-200 2 — 10 150 160
Bombardier Dash 8-Q400 2 — 5 64 69
Embraer 190-E2 — 2 12 84 96 Delivery expected Q2 2022[7]
Total 4 2

One of the aircraft was impounded in Dublin for a few weeks in September 2015 where it was to be painted.[17]

See also

References
  1. "Mme Louise MAayuma Kasende, Presidente Du Conseil D'Administration" (in French).
  2. "EMBRAER S.A.: Congo Airways Signs Order with Embraer for Two E175 Jets" (Press release). Embraer. 10 December 2019. Archived from the original on 10 December 2019.
  3. "Congo Airways outlines regional, int'l expansion plans". ch-aviation. 28 January 2016. Archived from the original on 3 September 2016.
  4. "Congo Airways poised to go up, up and away…". African Aerospace. 26 May 2017. Retrieved 4 March 2020.
  5. "Company History". Congo Airways.
  6. "Brazil's Embraer signs $194.4 million deal for two E175 jets with Congo Airways". Reuters. 10 December 2019. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
  7. "EMBRAER S.A.: Congo Airways Converts Embraer E175 Order to E190-E2 Jets". PR Newswire. 26 May 2020. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  8. "AFRAA Annual Report 2019" (PDF). AFRAA. 2019.
  9. "AFRAA Annual Report 2017" (PDF). AFRAA. 2017.
  10. "AFRAA Annual Report 2018" (PDF). AFRAA. 2018.
  11. "Congo Airways outlines regional, int'l expansion plans". ch-aviation GmbH. 28 January 2016. Archived from the original on 3 September 2016.
  12. https://www.routesonline.com/news/38/airlineroute/278843/congo-airways-adds-new-african-destinations-in-may-2018/
  13. Congo Airways le plaisir de voyager
  14. https://www.routesonline.com/news/38/airlineroute/280260/congo-airways-adds-moanda-flight-from-mid-august-2018/
  15. "Congo Airways adds new African destinations in May 2018". routesonline. Retrieved 29 May 2018.
  16. "Global Airline Guide 2019 (Part One)". Airliner World (October 2019): 12.
  17. "Court grounds Congolese aircraft in €10m debt dispute". RTE. 21 August 2015. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
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