Congolese Airlines

[Yupes]

In the first phase, ZC will operate scheduled 737 services between Lubumbashi (FBM) and Kinshasa (FIH) as well as between FBM and Johannesburg. The FBM-FIH service will eventually connect to SN’s services from Brussels to FIH. BAe146 service from FBM to Mbuji-Maji and Kolwezi will be added in the second phase.

Henry de Harenne, a spokesman for Forrest, said that "administrative difficulties" were behind the delay in launching the company, which aims to start flying between Kinshasa, Lubumbashi and Johannesburg in April, both with Boeing 737-300s leased from Brussels Airlines. Mbuji Maji and Kolwezi will also be added to the network from Lubumbashi by BAe146-200 aircraft. Korongo is also planning to start flights from Lubumbashi to Kampala, Kigali and Bujumbura in cooperation with Brussels Airlines.

The $11 million project Korongo is 70 percent owned by Airbel, in which Brussels Airlines holds a 51 percent stake. Brussels Airlines is 45 percent owned by Germany's Lufthansa (LHAG.DE). George Forrest International, run by veteran Congo investor George Forrest, holds the other 49 percent of Airbel. The other 30 percent of Korongo is held by Congolese investors.

Another George Forrest company, EGMF, is locked in a bitter dispute at the court of arbitration in Paris with Congo's state mining company Gecamines over ownership of CMSK, a copper and cobalt asset in Katanga.

Lire l'article sur Reuters

[BUTEMBO21]

Originally Posted by Thermo

Apparently, Congolese government official Katumba blocked the start of Konrongo due to the fact that other companies complained to him that they would need to invest heavily to achieve the same level of safety as Korongo Airlines.

Mr. Augustin Katumba Mwanke died in a planecrash last week. The plane belonged a Congolese company...
Ironic, isn't it?

He was the most powerful guy in the presidential circle. But this country has no Leaders. only politicians. a country can never progress with politicians running it.

If Korongo starts. it will be a success. the market is very big. right now CAA is enjoying the monopoly , also Kenya and SA always are enjoying too much. more competition is needed.

[BUTEMBO21]

Originally Posted by kaps76

Another new comer in the airline industry in the DRC. Airline companies come and disappear in the DRC like small street shops usually close business...completely incognito.

www.jetcongo.com

[BUTEMBO21]

Originally Posted by kaps76

Another new comer in the airline industry in the DRC. Airline companies come and disappear in the DRC like small street shops usually close business...completely incognito.

+10

Whatever happened to the so called Okapi Airways. a company with a single used Aircraft .

[Yupes]

FlyKorongo - a safe and reliable carrier, a step in the right direction, a very beautiful and elegant livery!

[poseidonv]

anyone who works for korongo?
Am finishing avionics studies in november and i believe that korongo is the best company to start with...

[kaps76]

And Airbus 320 Number 4 for CAA

[Broda-Man]

The compeition between Korongo and CAA will be interresting. I hope that korongo's entrance in Drc's skies will take the quality of service, security and all of that to a superior level.

[Pius]

In the absence of major competitors, it is normal that CAA expands, but are they doing enough to build a long-term monopoly on the Congolese market? Korongo’s advent onto the Congolese market will soon answer the question.

[Broda-Man]

Originally Posted by Pius

In the absence of major competitors, it is normal that CAA expands, but are they doing enough to build a long-term monopoly on the Congolese market? Korongo’s advent onto the Congolese market will soon answer the question.

Yeah. Time will answer your question.

[poseidonv]

i had that hewa bora will start operating very soon under a new name, probably fly congo

[Yupes]

Originally Posted by Broda-Man

The compeition between Korongo and CAA will be interresting. I hope that korongo's entrance in Drc's skies will take the quality of service, security and all of that to a superior level.

The safety level will increase but where will the other airlines get the capital to invest heavily and achieve the same level of safety as Korongo Airlines. What can be done to resolve this?

[Broda-Man]

Originally Posted by Yupes

The safety level will increase but where will the other airlines get the capital to invest heavily and achieve the same level of safety as Korongo Airlines. What can be done to resolve this?

True that. Reaching Korongo's level will be a hard task for some of them. But if they cannot reach that level, they should at least aim at increasing their quality, not as high as Korongo's but better thn before.

[BUTEMBO21]

The Airline industry is very competitive. If they cannot reach Korongo's level. its their own death.

[Karavia]

I'm wondering if RVA is thinking about airstrips, security etc...

[Broda-Man]

Originally Posted by Karavia

I'm wondering if RVA is thinking about airstrips, security etc...

RVA is really a shame.
I remenber when Moise wanted to close la Luano due to some electric problems.
How can you have an airport such as Luano with no electricity ! Where does all that money go ?!!
Some things are just right there, in front their eyes. Get the men off their seats if they can't do the job. But, they'll keep dwelling on it.
Wr are still far from reaching the concept 'time is money'

[Yupes]

Korongo Airlines will start ops on April 16, 2012. They'll start with 8x weekly flights between FBM and FIH and 2x weekly flights between FBM & JNB.

PDG Christophe Allard dit Ingénierie Nouvelles en ligne que l'aspect le plus significatif de la compagnie aérienne Korongo établir sa base opérationnelle à Lubumbashi, c'est qu'il serait à l'avenir être en mesure de fournir des services d'entretien d'aéronefs aux normes de l'Union européenne dans le cœur de l'Afrique.

«Nous avons un 12 000 m2 pièce de la Belgique en Afrique centrale, grâce à notre nouveau hangar pour l'entretien d'aéronefs jusqu'à la taille d'un Boeing 737. Nous avons également investi massivement dans l'infrastructure aéroportuaire sous-développés, pour l'obtenir à des normes internationales modernes, ce qui nous permet d'exploiter des vols internationaux de l'aéroport à des régions auparavant cut-off », at-il dit.

Présentation de compagnies aériennes Korongo représente une nouvelle façon de voyage dans la région. La société a déclaré qu'elle serait de développer ses liaisons et des fréquences de vol en trois phases au cours de l'année, avec la première phase impliquant huit vols hebdomadaires entre Lubumbashi et de la RDC, la capitale Kinshasa, et deux liaisons hebdomadaires à partir de Lubumbashi à destination de Johannesburg.

Autres destinations à être connectés dans les phases de développement futurs comprennent Kolwezi, dans le sud de la RDC où il ya une demande importante pour le service des opérateurs miniers, Lilongwe au Malawi, à Lusaka en Zambie et à Entebbe en Ouganda.

La compagnie aérienne serait introduire des options de voyage en classe affaires à partir de Lubumbashi, ainsi que des collations sur les vols de courte distance, et des repas chauds sur les vols de plus de deux heures.

Billets serait également disponible en version électronique pour la première fois en RDC, tandis que les passagers pourraient choisir d'acheter entièrement flexible, semi-flexible ou à faible coût des billets, en fonction des besoins individuels.

La compagnie aérienne a également cibler les systèmes internationaux de réservation de billets tels que Galileo et Amadeus Ticketing réseaux pour permettre aux clients de réserver des billets à partir de n'importe où dans le monde.

Compagnies aériennes Korongo permettrait également de fret aérien capacités dans la région.

Lire l'article sur engineeringnews

[Karavia]

Originally Posted by Yupes

Korongo Airlines will start ops on April 16, 2012. They'll start with 8x weekly flights between FBM and FIH and 2x weekly flights between FBM & JNB.

Billets serait également disponible en version électronique pour la première fois en RDC, tandis que les passagers pourraient choisir d'acheter entièrement flexible, semi-flexible ou à faible coût des billets, en fonction des besoins individuels.

La compagnie aérienne a également cibler les systèmes internationaux de réservation de billets tels que Galileo et Amadeus Ticketing réseaux pour permettre aux clients de réserver des billets à partir de n'importe où dans le monde.

Ceci est pour moi un véritable exploit pour le Congo, Korongo a vraiment l'intention de s'implanter solidement et les autres vont devoir mettre les bouchés double. Concurrence loyale.....

[Karavia]

Originally Posted by BUTEMBO21

He was the most powerful guy in the presidential circle. But this country has no Leaders. only politicians. a country can never progress with politicians running it.

If Korongo starts. it will be a success. the market is very big. right now CAA is enjoying the monopoly , also Kenya and SA always are enjoying too much. more competition is needed.

Augustin Katumba Mwanke est mort le 12 février 2012.

Le président du Conseil de gérance de Korongo Airlines, George Arthur Forrest se réjouit de l’octroi des licences d’exploitation (signées le 12 janvier 2012) et des licences d’importation des avions (signées le 15 janvier 2012), permettant le lancement de la compagnie aérienne. Korongo Airlines a par ailleurs obtenu, le 31 janvier 2012, l’approbation de ses programmes d’exploitation internationale et domestique.

« A titre personnel, au nom du Conseil de gérance et des employés de Korongo Airlines, je tiens à remercier les autorités de la République Démocratique du Congo, en particulier le Président Kabila qui entend insuffler une nouvelle dynamique en faveur des investisseurs en RDC », a déclaré George Arthur Forrest. « Nous exprimons notre volonté de soutenir son programme de relance afin de mener le pays vers le redressement économique et social. Le lancement de Korongo Airlines y contribuera de façon très concrète.»

Le lancement de Korongo Airlines s’inscrit dans le processus des cinq chantiers initiés par le Président de la République. Basée à Lubumbashi, Korongo Airlines vise à relier les principaux centres du pays et à désenclaver certaines régions, en fournissant un service de qualité irréprochable conforme aux standards internationaux les plus pointus.

La compagnie aérienne Korongo Airlines a été créée par Brussels Airlines et le Groupe Forrest International. Brussels Airlines fait partie du groupe aéronautique Lufthansa et possède une longue expérience en Afrique centrale. Il est significatif de rappeler que le Groupe Forrest International est présent sans discontinuité en République démocratique du Congo depuis 1922 et y est aujourd’hui un des principaux employeurs et investisseurs privés.

Korongo Airlines publiera prochainement son programme commercial, en accord avec les autorités de l’aviation civile congolaise.

Source: Presse release George Forrest

[Karavia]

It's expected that Korongo Airlines will now begin operations in March or April this year, according to an article in a Belgian newspaper. Two years ago, Brussels Airlines and mining magnate George Forrest formed a partnership to form an airline that would provide domestic flights in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

It was expected that an airline formed by Brussels Airlines would earn the trust of the Congolese traveling public as the existing local airlines have very poor safety records and have been involved in numerous accidents that have claimed several lives. DR Congo's airlines have always been christened "Flying Coffins" due to their poor safety records.

According to Brussels Airlines, many businessmen, UN officials and aid workers in the Congo have repeatedly asked for a safe airline for flights between towns and cities in the vast Central African country that's estimated to be the size of Western Europe and without a proper road network. A local Brussels Airlines subsidiary will also provide travelers from the Congo the convenience of easy connections to international flights on Brussels Airlines.

The ambitions of Brussels Airlines and George Forrest were long crippled by bureaucratic obstacles. Late last year, the airline and George Forrest International invested $11 million in Korongo Airlines but had faced vehement opposition by the aviation Union leaders in Belgium and the opposition in the DR Congo.

According to George Forrest, the way is now clear for the launch of the newest bird in the Skies of the Congo: "We now have all authorizations to the last signature"


He continued, "We have a few weeks for our structure to start,"

Korongo Airlines will use Lubumbashi, the capital of Katanga Province as its hub.

The news of the breakthrough is positive for Congo and the Congolese aviation fraternity. Korongo Airlines will definitely usher in some assurance of safety to the chaotic and dangerous Congolese aviation scene that has claimed thousands of lives.

Source: Flight Africa