As part of the revival of air activities in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Deputy Prime Minister in charge of Transport, Jean-Pierre Bemba, revealed during the recent Council of Ministers the date of the inaugural flight of the Air Congo company for December 1 of this year. This announcement marks an important step in the country’s air transport sector and highlights the efforts made to strengthen the sector.
Discussions between the main shareholders, namely the Congolese State and the Ethiopian group, have actively resumed since the beginning of the month. It should be noted that the distribution of shares, respectively 51% for the Democratic Republic of Congo and 49% for the Ethiopian group, represents a significant amount of 40 million dollars. This collaboration aims to boost the Congolese air sector and offer new air transport opportunities to citizens.
The Ethiopian company has committed to making at least 7 aircraft available to the Democratic Republic of Congo as part of this joint venture. This approach is in line with a memorandum of understanding signed in September 2021 in Addis Ababa between the Congolese parties and Ethiopian Airlines. This acquisition of quality aircraft underlines the strategic importance of this collaboration for the development of national air transport.
The announcement of the inaugural flight of Air Congo is encouraging news for the transport sector in the DRC. It demonstrates the government’s desire to invest in solid international partnerships to strengthen the supply of air services and promote the country’s connectivity. This initiative should also help stimulate the local economy by facilitating the movement of passengers and goods across the country.
In conclusion, the upcoming opening of Air Congo marks an important turning point in the history of Congolese aviation. This collaboration with Ethiopian Airlines promises to boost the air sector and promote the country’s economic development. Congolese citizens can thus hope to benefit from quality air services and enhanced connectivity thanks to this promising initiative.