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Founded | 15 August 2014 | ||||||
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Commenced operations | 20 October 2015 | ||||||
Operating bases | N'djili Airport [1] | ||||||
Fleet size | 4 | ||||||
Destinations | 3 | ||||||
Headquarters | Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo | ||||||
Key people | |||||||
Website | congoairways.com |
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.
This article needs to be updated.(November 2023) |
Congo Airways was created on 15 August 2014 at the government's instigation, and made its first flight on 20 October 2015 using two Airbus A320 aircraft acquired from Alitalia. [3] The company initially served Congolese destinations from its base at N'djili Airport in Kinshasa, and planned to increase its fleet and serve regional and international markets. [4] [5] Air France Consulting provided technical assistance to the airline. [4] One of the airline's aircraft was impounded in Dublin for a few weeks in September 2015 where it was to be painted. [6]
On 10 December 2019, Congo Airways signed a $194.4 million deal to acquire two E175 jets from Embraer. The jets were expected to be delivered in Q4 2020. [7] On 26 May 2020, Congo Airways have converted the firm order made in December 2019 for two E175 aircraft, with purchase rights for two more, into a firm order for two E190-E2 jets, with purchase rights for a further two. The jets are expected to be delivered in Q2 2022. [8] In September 2021, the airline also executed a wet lease of two Embraer 190 aircraft for two years from Kenya Airways. [9] [10]
The airline is 100% state-controlled, being owned by the Government of the DRC. [11] Shareholders are reported to be various government agencies: the Intermodal Freight Management Office (OGEFREM), the National Social Security Institute (INSS), the General of Quarries and Mines ( Gécamines), the Congolese Transport and Ports Society (SCTP), the Industry Promotion Fund (FPI) and the Airway Authority (RVA). [3]
Congo Airways does not appear to have published its accounts; also, in an audit dated 28 May 2021 there were detailed allegations that embezzlement and over-invoicing totalling several million dollars had taken place at Congo Airways over recent years. [12] [13] Available figures (largely from AFRAA reports, which contain inconsistencies) are shown below (for years ending 31 December):
2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Turnover (US$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 | 4 | 4 |
Notes/sources | [14] [5] | [15] | [11] |
As of September 2023 [update], the company served the Lubumbashi–Kinshasa sector prior to suspending operations. [1] In May 2018 the airline commenced flights to Douala and Johannesburg-OR Tambo Airport. [16]
Country | City | Airport | Notes | Refs |
---|---|---|---|---|
Cameroon | Douala | Douala International Airport | Terminated | [16] |
Democratic Republic of Congo | Gemena | Gemena Airport | Terminated | [17] |
Goma | Goma International Airport | [18] | ||
Kananga | Kananga Airport | Terminated | [17] | |
Kindu | Kindu Airport | Terminated | [17] | |
Kinshasa | Kinshasa–N'djili | Hub | [1] | |
Kisangani | Kisangani Airport | Terminated | [17] | |
Lubumbashi | Lubumbashi International Airport | [1] | ||
Mbandaka | Mbandaka Airport | Terminated | [17] | |
Mbuji-Mayi | Mbuji-Mayi Airport | Terminated | [17] | |
Moanda | Muanda Airport | Terminated | [19] | |
South Africa | Johannesburg | O. R. Tambo International Airport | Terminated | [16] |
As of August 2019, the Congo Airways fleet consisted of the following aircraft: [20][ needs update]
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 [8] |
Embraer 195-E2 | — | 2 | 12 | 108 | 120 | Delivery expected to commence in 2022 [21][ non-primary source needed] |
Total | 4 | 4 |