Congo Airways returns wet-leased Kenya Airways E190s

Congo Airways (8Z, Kinshasa N’Djili) has returned two ERJ 190-100ARs to Kenya Airways (KQ, Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta) following the end of a six-month contract, the Kenyan carrier’s chief executive Allan Kilavuka has confirmed to ch-aviation.

The wet-lease of 5Y-FFM (msn 19000431) and 5Y-FFL (msn 19000418) ended on March 15 2022, he said adding that the airlines had “mutually agreed that we will not extend it”.

Congo Airways had secured the Embraer jets as part of a strategic partnership with Kenya Airways, forged in April 2021, and were used to boost domestic frequencies. The initial plan was to add an aircraft should the need arise. The partnership also included codeshares on the Kenyan carrier’s cargo network. “We are exploring other partnership opportunities with Congo Airways and continue with the cargo partnership,” Kilavuka added.

Ecofin reported the Congolese airline was awaiting the imminent return of one of its two in-house A320-200s – 9S-AKD (msn 3412) – currently in maintenance at Casablanca Int’l, Morocco. Its second A320-200, 9S-ALU (msn 3362), is in active service, according to the ch-aviation fleets advanced module.

The airline is also awaiting the arrival of an undisclosed A319-100 currently on lease, according to Ecofin.

Apart from the two A320-200s, Congo Airways’ in-house fleet also includes two DHC-8-Q400s. The airline also has two E190-E2s and two E195-E2s on firm order from the Brazilian manufacturer, according to ch-aviation data. The first E190-E2 has already been built and has even been named “Etienne Tshisekedi” in honour of the country’s former prime minister. However, to date, delivery has not been effected.

Meanwhile, the Kenyan flag carrier has announced a route review of its domestic and international passenger operations following a recovery in travel demand from the COVID-19 pandemic. These include:

a frequency increase to London Heathrow from five to daily flights;
postponement of flights to Milan Malpensa and Rome Fiumicino – previously planned for June 8, 2022 – in light of reduced demand as a result of slower than expected recovery from the pandemic;
suspension of Yaoundé Nsimalen, Cameroon by May 31, 2022.
frequency reductions on the route between Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta and Kisumu from 26 times to 17 times weekly;
operation day changes on the route between Juba, South Sudan and Khartoum, Sudan to cater for Sudan weekends.