Air Zaire - Air Congo

In 1960, Belgium terminated her 78´s years rule in the Congo and the first National Government Congo was formed.

SABENA (Société Anonyme Belge dÉxploitation de la Navigation Aérienne) formed the new Nat ional Flag carrier Air Congo. The airline was primarily owned by the Congo Government and SABENA Belgian Airlines and established a network of routes within the former Belgian colony byusing Douglas DC-3, DC-4, C54A, DC-6 and DC-8. Also routes to Europe from Congowere jointly operated with SABENA using Boeing 707s.

By late 1960s Air Congo had splitt off with Sabena by introducing two Douglas DC8-33s purchased from Pan American. Caravelle SE-210s and Fokker F-27 was introduced when the olderaircraft like DC-3, DC-4, C-54A, and DC-6 were phased out.

Air Zaire Caravelle SE210 11R, 9Q-CLD, c/n 251,
Photo: AirTeams

Douglas DC-8-31,9Q-CLE msn 45276
Photo: The Mighty Eight

On 25th October 1971 the airline bacame Air Zaire to go along with the name change of the country. Air Zaire continued to operate the DC8s and during 1973 the first Boeing 737-298C 9Q-CNI entered the fleet.

In 1973 a DC-10-30, 9Q-CLI and a leased Boeing 747, N747PA were added to the fleet and following by a second DC-10, 9Q-CLT in 1974

Air Zaire was struggling already in 1985 and the DC-10, 9Q-CLT was sold to British Airways as G-NIUK. Orders for 2no MD-11 and 2no MD-80 were placed in early 1990s to replace the DC-10-30s and Boeing B737-200s but due to poor financial state of airline the orders were cancelled.

In October 1992 the other DC-10, 9Q-CLI was stored in Tel Aviv, Israel awaiting maintenance.The aircraft was scrapped during 2002. A third DC-10, V2-LEA was contracted on a short termbasis and was operated by Skyjet from November 1992 until the end of that year.

Air Zaire Boeing 737-298 9Q-CNK c/n 20795
Photo: FirstGen

FONT SIZE=3>Air Zaire Douglas DC-10-30F, 9Q-CLI, F-OGQC "Mont Ngaliema" c/n 47886
Photo: Christian Volpati

Air Zaire Boeing 747-121 cn 19639 N747QC
Photo:M Oertly

The Final

On January 2, 1995, a the Boeing 737-298C, 9Q-CNI "Lac Tumba" ran off the runway in poor weather conditions in Kinshasa. The engines were torn from the aircraft but no serious injures resulted.

Air Zaire declared bankruptcy 1n 1995 after debts totaled 1 billion Belgian France and ceased all operations. The government joined in a partnership with Sabena to reorganize the carrier under the new brand "New Air Zaire" useing the existing fleet.

New Air Zaire 1995-1996

Sabena joined the government in a venture to begin a carrier where the bankrupt Air Zaire left off. The carrier reffered to as "New Air Zaire and would operate domestic services whilst Sabena would utilise its traffic rights and operate international flights.

Zaire tried to remove the government from transportaion activities and sell stakes in the new companies to private, usually foreign operator Sabena wich was partners with Swissair who together purchased the rights for about 1000 million Belgian frances. Services began in February 1996 but the future was by then uncertain.

Lignes Aériennes Congolaises 1997-2003

Lignes New Air Zaire was reorganized into "Aériennes Congolaises which began flights in 1997 but halted operations in 1999, it was reacivated for a short period in 2002, only to cease operation for good in 2003

2013
LIC -Lignes Aériennes Congolaises to be replaced by new national carrier.

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This site is not sponsored by Air Zaire!

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©Copyright 1998 by Tony Edlind
Sweden