Ethiopian CEO says Air Congo set for December launch with vision to expand pan-African reach

Addis Ababa, November 8, 2024 (FBC) – The CEO of Ethiopian Airlines Group Mr. Mesfin Tasew confirmed that Air Congo, the proposed national airline of the Democratic Republic of Congo Airlines will be operational within a month.

Co-owned by the DRC government and Ethiopian Airlines, Air Congo is set to be the 2nd active national carrier of DRC, along with Congo Airways.

In that regard, Mesfin disclosed that Ethiopian Airlines is supplying two Boeing 737-800s for the early December launch of new Congolese carrier Air Congo.

According to the CEO, Ethiopian Airline is on a fast track of growth in all directions to achieve its vision.

He stated that the airline has extensive experience in establishing African airlines, and recently reached an agreement with the DRC’s government to establish a new airline in Kinshasa.

Air Congo is the latest African carrier backed by Ethiopian Airlines following in the footsteps of Togo’s ASKY, Zambia Airways and Malawi Airlines.

Ethiopian will take a 49% stake in Kinshasa-based Air Congo with the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo holding the majority stake. “It is agreed and signed, and we have deployed the resources and the people,” Mesfin revealed in an interview with local newswire service ENA.

Indicating that Ethiopian Airlines is supplying two aircrafts for this startup service, Mesfin said for the first six months, Air Congo’s service will be domestic flights within DRC. “They have a very big domestic network, and after six months, we will add two more airplanes. When we reach four, it will start flying to a few neighboring countries.”

The responsibility of managing Air Congo will be fully under by Ethiopian Airlines, the CEO noted, adding that after a year in operation the aim is for Air Congo to reach a fleet size of six 737-800s. He pointed out that due to the growing population size of DRC, the demand for air transport in the country is high.

The CEO said that various African countries are asking his Airlines Group to establish their airline ventures. He pointed out that a feasibility study is being conducted to work with those countries.

Ethiopian’s experience with joint venture airlines as it seeks to extend its reach across Africa has broadly been successful with the carrier conducting a careful assessment of partners and the business plan before going ahead, Mesfin said in an interview with African Aerospace.

“We talk to either governments or partners in selected countries to set up their own national carriers. We do our due diligence and if the result of the assessment shows it is good to invest in that airline, we go ahead.”