Air Congo Takes Off to Brussels Thanks to Ethiopian Airlines: Behind the Scenes of a Historic First Flight
The first direct Air Congo flight between Kinshasa and Brussels, inaugurated on July 1, 2026, marks the symbolic return of the national airline to a major international route. Behind this historic event, however, lies an aviation mechanism little known to the general public, allowing the DRC to legally bypass the restrictions imposed by the European Union on its carriers.
Why Air Congo Can Fly to Europe
For several years, airlines certified in the Democratic Republic of Congo have been on the European Union blacklist due to concerns related to the supervision of aviation safety. In principle, they are therefore not authorized to operate their own aircraft in European airspace.
Yet Air Congo now serves Brussels. This possibility is based on an aircraft leasing contract known as ACMI, more commonly referred to as wet lease.
The ACMI System, the Key to the Operation
The principle is simple. The partner airline provides the aircraft, crew, maintenance and insurance. In the case of Air Congo, this role is played by Ethiopian Airlines, which owns 49% of the company’s capital, while the Congolese State owns 51%.
The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner used on the Kinshasa-Brussels route therefore belongs to Ethiopian Airlines. The pilots, maintenance and insurance are also provided by the Ethiopian airline, whose air operator certificate is recognized by European authorities.
A Congolese Airline with Ethiopian Know-How
Although tickets are marketed under the Air Congo brand, the flight is technically operated by Ethiopian Airlines. This formula, authorized under international civil aviation rules, allows Air Congo to operate this route without violating European requirements.
On board, however, the Congolese identity remains very present. Congolese cabin crew members take part in some flights, and announcements are also made in Lingala, offering passengers an experience with national colors.
A Temporary Solution Before Autonomy
The use of wet lease is a strategy already adopted by several African airlines to launch or maintain international routes while waiting to fully comply with international safety standards.
For Air Congo, this first route to Brussels therefore represents much more than the opening of a simple air connection. It is a step toward rebuilding a credible Congolese aviation sector. The real challenge now will be to sustainably strengthen technical capacities, oversight and safety standards so that, tomorrow, Air Congo aircraft can connect Europe under a Congolese certificate, without depending on a foreign partner.
MB – A30
About The Author
