Congo-connect

Africa's aviation industry remains underdeveloped, with only 2.4 per cent of global passenger traffic despite housing 18 per cent of the world’s population.

Highlighting the disparity, Biru stated: "Aviation in Africa is at the lowest level when compared with the global passenger traffic... There is an air traffic imbalance when compared with the global air traffic movement."

He emphasised that "developing and opening up air traffic movement is very essential for the socio, economic, and cultural growth and exchange within Africa and beyond."

Air Congo, he affirmed, is launched "with this aim of connecting Africa."

One of the most significant aspects of Air Congo’s launch is its equity partnership with Ethiopian Airlines. "African airlines are highly challenged by lack of professionalism, good governance, and leadership," Biru said.

He explained that Ethiopian Airlines' involvement ensures that Air Congo "stays competitive and sustainable" by bringing "its long years of experience, expertise, and commercial and operational excellence." Without such a structure, he warned, "the fate of airlines in Africa has become a gradual failure."

Air Congo’s primary focus is to improve domestic air travel within the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), a country with limited infrastructure and vast geographical challenges.

Currently, African travellers often transit through distant hubs such as Johannesburg, Nairobi, or Addis Ababa to reach regional destinations. "Air connectivity within Africa is very much suppressed, and regional air movements involve transiting via long-distant cities within Africa and beyond," Biru stated.

Infrastructure remains a significant challenge in the DRC, with limited land connectivity and unregulated operators. However, Biru remains optimistic: "Just like many African countries, the DRC has an infrastructure problem with limited land connectivity, airport infrastructure, and non-regulated operators.

Air Congo’s presence is set to stimulate trade, tourism, and economic growth. "The DRC is twice the size of Ethiopia, with multiple provinces and major cities," Biru pointed out. "The distance between Addis Ababa and the city of Goma is equal to the distance between Kinshasa and the city of Goma. This shows that the DRC is a vast country blessed with natural gifts such as forest wood and minerals under the earth. The more than 110 million population of the DRC are assets to exchange cultural and artistic attributes and social engagements.

"Equity airline partnership is the best fit arrangement for airlines within Africa as establishing an airline company is a very capital-intensive business that also needs a high level of professionalism and good governance and transparency," Biru stated.

Air Congo is actively integrating into the global aviation network. "Air Congo has filed to get certification and airline codes from the International Air Transport Association (IATA)," Biru revealed.

"It has already secured the three letter designator (3LD) and also the airline telephony from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). The Air Congo 3LD is 'DRC,' and the airline's telephony or call sign is 'LeoparC.' Leopard represents the DRC insignia, and the C at the end represents the Congo (DRC)."

The airline is also forging strategic partnerships. "Eventually, we will have more and more interline and code-share partnerships with many strategic partner airlines. The interline partnership and SPA agreement with Ethiopian is already signed. This makes Air Congo and Ethiopian able to exchange passengers and enables them to issue through-fare tickets between the two airlines."

He added, "For instance, a passenger travelling from Kisangani to Dubai can purchase one ticket with an itinerary Kisangani-Kinshasa-Addis Ababa-Dubai with a very competitive fare."

With its strategic vision, strong partnership, and commitment to excellence, Air Congo is poised to reshape aviation in Central Africa. "We are in the right place at the right time," Biru concluded, confident in the airline’s ability to connect, empower, and transform the region.