The Democratic Republic of the Congo is making a new attempt to revive state-owned Congo Airways, targeting a November 2026 return to commercial service with two Embraer E190s and one Airbus A320. Domestic flights are expected to resume first, with regional routes potentially following, but the aircraft’s readiness, regulatory approvals and operating timetable remain unconfirmed.
Transport Vice Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Bemba convened an interministerial coordination meeting in Kinshasa on 21 October to review the airline’s technical, operational and financial position and accelerate implementation of a recovery plan. Congo Airways has been grounded since 12 April 2025, when wet-lease agreements with Lithuanian operator KlasJet expired.
The carrier’s existing fleet includes two Airbus A320s and a Bombardier Q400 that have remained out of service because of maintenance, engine and leasing problems. An Embraer E190 delivered in December 2025 has not yet enabled a restart, while another E190 may still be in Toulouse. The leased A320 arrived in Kinshasa on 31 January 2026.
The airline also faces severe financial and governance challenges. A September board letter reportedly indicated that more than USD 23 million in support, revenue and guarantees had been made available or secured during 2025 and 2026, despite the continued grounding. Salaries have reportedly gone unpaid for 29 months, while one leased A320 incurred more than USD 3 million in costs without generating revenue. No destinations, frequencies or booking arrangements had been published by 22 October, leaving November as a government target rather than a confirmed restart date.