Air Congo confirms launch of Brussels–Kinshasa flights, challenging Brussels Airlines monopoly

Air Congo will begin operating flights between Brussels and Kinshasa on July 1, introducing the first direct competition on the route for Brussels Airlines.

According to Brussels Airport, Air Congo will initially operate four weekly flights between Brussels and Kinshasa on Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

The service will be operated using a leased Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner provided by Ethiopian Airlines, which is also a major shareholder in Air Congo. The aircraft is scheduled to depart Kinshasa at 10:00, arriving at Brussels Airport at 19:00, before returning to Kinshasa at 20:45 and landing at 03:45 local time. As a reminder, aircraft from the Democratic Republic of Congo are not allowed in the European Union for safety reasons.

Until now, Brussels Airlines has been the sole operator on the Brussels–Kinshasa route, serving the market with daily flights. Air Congo’s entry marks a significant development in air services between Belgium and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, introducing direct competition on one of Brussels Airlines’ most important long-haul routes.