Congo Airways resumes int’l flights

State-owned Congo Airways (8Z, Kinshasa N’Djili) is to resume flights to South Africa, currently, its only international service, on December 13, 2020, Chief Executive Officer Désiré Balazire confirmed to ch-aviation. In an emailed response to ch-aviation, he confirmed the carrier would also begin services to Abidjan and Douala soon, and was considering flights to Bangui. Congo Airways operated international services to Cotonou and Douala before but dropped them due to low demand. According to the ch-aviation schedules module, flight 8Z10 from Kinshasa N’Djili via Lubumbashi to Johannesburg O.R. Tambo will operate 3x weekly. The aircraft to be used will be an A320-200, carrying 165 passengers in a two-class configuration, with 155 seats in economy class and 10 in business class. The airline owns two A320-200s and two Dash 8-400s. As of October 20, 2020, it had two ERJ 190-300s on order from the manufacturer, according to the ch-aviation fleets ownership module. Balazire previously confirmed to ch-aviation that the airline had revised its order for four E175s with four E190-300ss (two firm and two purchase rights). The type’s range out of Kinshasa would allow Congo Airways to reach destinations in North-, South-, and West Africa, and the Indian Ocean islands. The E190s would replace the carrier’s two Dash 8-400s. The first E190 was to arrive in May 2022. The airline had plans to add four A220-300s to replace its A320 fleet, originally to be delivered in 3Q21, 4Q21, 3Q22, and 4Q22 respectively.