Air Congo Set to Launch Kinshasa–Brussels Route via Ethiopian Airlines ACMI Partnership
Air Congo is preparing to make a bold entry into the long-haul aviation market, with plans to launch direct services between Kinshasa and Brussels through an innovative ACMI (Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance and Insurance) arrangement with Ethiopian Airlines. The development promises to reshape connectivity between Central Africa and Europe, while opening fresh commercial opportunities for travel professionals across sub-Saharan Africa.
The ACMI structure has been carefully designed to navigate a long-standing regulatory hurdle. All air carriers certified by the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) currently remain barred from European Union airspace for safety oversight reasons. By leasing aircraft, crew and operational support from Ethiopian Airlines, Air Congo will be able to circumvent these restrictions and offer the long-haul service under a compliant operational framework. It is a creative solution that may well serve as a template for other African carriers facing similar regulatory limitations.
According to Air Congo's CEO, Mesfin Biru, the long-haul strategy initially centres on two Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners to be wet leased from Ethiopian Airlines. The carrier's broader ambitions also include future direct services to Paris Charles de Gaulle and Dubai International, signalling a clear intent to position Kinshasa as a more globally connected aviation gateway. For African travel professionals, these plans translate into improved routing flexibility, more competitive pricing dynamics and expanded multi-destination itinerary options for clients travelling between Europe, the Middle East and Central Africa.
The Brussels launch will mark a particularly significant shift in market dynamics. The route is currently operated as a direct service exclusively by Brussels Airlines, while Ethiopian Airlines and Air France serve the corridor through one-stop connections via Addis Ababa and Paris respectively. Air Congo's arrival is set to break Brussels Airlines' direct-route monopoly, introducing welcome competition that could yield more attractive fares, better schedule choices and stronger value for both leisure and business travellers.
The carrier, which is majority owned by the DRC government with a 51 percent stake, has also been steadily building out its short-haul capabilities. On 21 May, Air Congo took delivery of its second ATR72-600 turboprop, registered ET-BCM, from Ethiopian Airlines. Ethiopian continues to manage day-to-day operations for Air Congo and supplies the bulk of its aircraft, technical support, training and maintenance oversight, a partnership model that has steadily helped the airline strengthen its operational maturity.
Since arriving, ET-BCM has been deployed across 11 domestic destinations within the DRC and recently extended its reach into the broader region with flights to Libreville Leon M'Ba in Gabon and Lomé in Togo on 27 May. It joins its sister aircraft, ET-BCO, which entered service in April after also being delivered from Ethiopian Airlines. Both turboprops are dry leased to Ethiopian by Abelo Capital Aviation, illustrating the layered nature of contemporary African aviation financing.
With the latest delivery, Air Congo's fleet now stands at five aircraft, comprising the two ATR72-600 turboprops alongside three Boeing 737-800s, two of which are leased from Ethiopian Airlines while the third comes from SMBC Aviation Capital. This balanced fleet mix supports a dual strategy of strengthening domestic and regional networks while preparing operationally for the imminent leap into long-haul service.
For tourism professionals across sub-Saharan Africa, the broader takeaway is significant. The DRC, with its rich natural resources, vast geography and growing urban centres, remains an underdeveloped player in continental tourism. Improved air connectivity to Europe could unlock new business travel flows, support diaspora movement, encourage MICE growth and gradually pave the way for niche tourism segments such as eco-tourism, cultural travel and adventure exploration along the Congo Basin.
Looking ahead, the Air Congo–Ethiopian Airlines partnership stands as a compelling example of how strategic cooperation between African carriers can overcome regulatory barriers, accelerate market entry and deliver tangible benefits for travellers. As more African nations seek to expand their international footprints, this kind of cross-border collaboration is likely to become an increasingly powerful force shaping the future of the continent's aviation and tourism landscape.
