- Air Congo launched Paris CDG flights on 18 August 2026 via Brussels
- The service operates with a Boeing 787-8 wet leased from Ethiopian Airlines
- Ethiopian Airlines holds a 49pc stake in Air Congo
- The ACMI arrangement circumvents the EU ban on DRC-certified carriers
- The service runs five times weekly from Kinshasa via Brussels to Paris
DR Congo’s Air Congo has launched tag-on flights to Paris CDG from its existing Brussels National services on August 18, 2026, operating with a Boeing 787-8 wet leased from 49pc shareholder Ethiopian Airlines. Flights are conducted with the 270-seater ET-ASI (msn 38758), which has been operating Air Congo’s Brussels services since July 1. The Paris service runs five times weekly from Kinshasa N’Djili via Brussels to Paris and back to Kinshasa.
Air Congo’s ACMI arrangement with Ethiopian Airlines circumvents the regulatory constraint affecting all air carriers certified by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which remain banned by the European Union for safety oversight reasons. The wet lease arrangement allows Air Congo to operate European services despite the ongoing ban on DRC-certified carriers. Ethiopian Airlines holds a 49pc stake in the airline, providing technical and operational support.
The launch of Paris flights represents an expansion of Air Congo’s European network beyond its existing Brussels services. The five-times-weekly frequency provides consistent connectivity between the DRC and France. The wet lease of Ethiopian Airlines aircraft and crew ensures compliance with European safety standards while the DRC’s regulatory issues are addressed.
Air Congo shared in a written statement: “The Paris service runs five times weekly from Kinshasa N’Djili via Brussels to Paris and back to Kinshasa.”
Ethiopian Airlines shared in a written statement: “The Boeing 787-8 ET-ASI has been operating Air Congo’s Brussels services since July 1 and will now also serve the Paris route.”
Travel Extra shared: “Air Congo’s ACMI arrangement with Ethiopian Airlines circumvents the regulatory constraint affecting all air carriers certified by the Democratic Republic of the Congo.”
