• Airline to launch Kinshasa–Brussels flights starting in July
• Two new ATR aircraft will support domestic expansion
• Move targets strong travel demand between DRC and Belgium

Air Congo is preparing to launch long-haul flights between Kinshasa and Brussels while expanding its domestic network with the addition of new aircraft. The plans were discussed during a meeting on April 27 between Congo’s transport minister, Jean-Pierre Bemba, and Ethiopian Airlines CEO Mesfin Tasew.

The airline expects to receive its first ATR 72-600, a 70-seat turboprop, on April 30. A second aircraft is also planned. These additions are intended to strengthen domestic connectivity. At the same time, Air Congo aims to begin service to Brussels in July.

The expansion builds on a broader network strategy rolled out in recent weeks. The carrier has already added regional destinations including Entebbe, Johannesburg, Cotonou, and Douala. Earlier in April, it also announced five new domestic routes—Bunia, Beni, Isiro, Gbadolite, and Kalemie—to improve links between remote regions and the capital.

Brussels represents a key international market. The Belgian capital hosts a large Congolese community, and travel flows between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Belgium remain among the strongest between Central Africa and French-speaking Europe, outside of France. These ties reflect a shared history shaped by the colonial period.

The Kinshasa–Brussels route is currently served by Brussels Airlines with daily direct flights. Ethiopian Airlines and Air France also operate on the route with connections through Addis Ababa and Paris.

Henoc Dossa