Air Congo, the DRC’s flag carrier, launches its first five international routes from Kinshasa this month to Johannesburg, Entebbe, Douala, Cotonou, and Dar es Salaam, less than 18 months after the airline’s first domestic flight in December 2024.
Exact Launch Dates
Johannesburg and Entebbe debut on March 22, followed by Douala and Cotonou on March 28, with Dar es Salaam joining on April 4, 2026.
All routes operate on Boeing 737-800 aircraft, with Johannesburg running three times weekly via Lubumbashi.
The Partnership Behind the Airline
Air Congo is a joint venture between the DRC government (51%) and Ethiopian Airlines (49%), which provides fleet and technical support.
First-Mover Advantage
On Kinshasa–Douala and Kinshasa–Cotonou, Air Congo enters as first-mover — passengers currently route through distant hubs like Addis Ababa, Lomé, or Abidjan to travel between the DRC and coastal West Africa.
Tourism Impact
The new routes plug the DRC directly into Africa’s busiest tourism corridors Entebbe opens Uganda’s gorilla trekking experiences, while Dar es Salaam serves Zanzibar and mainland safari parks.
None of the new routes are currently bookable through Air Congo’s online engine.
Travellers should monitor official channels for ticketing availability.
