The Democratic Republic of Congo national carrier which has been operating only one yet leased aircraft is at risk of losing its license, Taarifa reliably reports.
According to details, Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo the Vice Prime Minister who also serves as Transport minister has allegedly lodged a complaint to the head of state that his effort to revive Congo Airways is being met with resistance and bureaucratic delays.
He noted that his efforts to revive the national airline “have not seen any progress”.
A frustrated Bemba added that there is need for the government to finance the implementation of the emergency plan to revive the activities of Congo Airways.
Bemba has indicated that Congo Airways only operated with an aircraft obtained by leasing, a rental contract or contractual agreement that provides that the user pays the owner for the use of an asset.
“Since the funds necessary to enable this national company to strengthen its operational capacity have not yet been released, Congo Airways only operates one aircraft under lease, the contract of which expires in the coming days,” Bemba said.
“In addition, it risks losing its air carrier certificate and its IATA approval if, by September 16, it does not have an operational aircraft registered in the Democratic Republic of Congo,” indicated the minutes of this meeting.
The 6th meeting of the Council of Ministers, held on Friday, July 19, 2024 had recommended that government considers renewing the fleet of Congo Airways SA.
Bemba presented a business plan spread over a period of 5 years, which provides for the acquisition by lease/purchase of 3 A320 aircraft, which would make it possible to resolve the double issue relating to the loss of the CTA air transport certificate and the IATA approval by the deadline of September 16, 2024.