Congo Airways S.A. is the state-owned flag carrier airline of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). With a paid-up capital of US$90 million, it started operations on 20 October 2015. It is banned from flying into the EU.[1]
History
Congo Airways was created on 15 August 2014 at the government's instigation, and made its first flight on 20 October 2015 using two Airbus A320 aircraft acquired from Alitalia. The company initially served Congolese destinations from its base at N'djili Airport in Kinshasa, and planned to increase its fleet and serve regional and international markets. Air France Consulting provided technical assistance to the airline.[2] One of the airline's aircraft was impounded in Dublin for a few weeks in September 2015 where it was to be painted.[3]
On 10 December 2019, Congo Airways signed a $194.4 million deal to acquire two E175 jets from