Korongo Airlines: THE END

[flightlover]

May we say there is a new wind is blowing in the DRC?

Guess the last high profile passenger death in a plane crash was the wright one for Korongo Airlines.
Now let us hope they can start cashing in on being a safe airline.

[Passenger]

http://www.eturbonews.com/29415/congo-c ... -29-planes

ZC is mentioned as being the exception of the sole DRC airline not being on the EU blacklist.

Did something change?

Nope - eTN's source in Goma is unreliable.

There hasn't been a change for the EU blacklist since 3th April 2012. Korongo Airlines remains blacklisted, just like all carriers from D.R. Congo: "All air carriers certified by the authorities with responsibility for regulatory oversight of Democratic Republic of Congo (RDC)". For Korongo's AOC, the European Union refers to 409/CAB/MIN/TVC/001/201/1.

However, Korongo Airlines and Hewa Bora may apply to fly to/from EU-airspace with wetlease aircraft from other non banned airlines: "Air carriers listed in Annex A could be permitted to exercise traffic rights by using wet-leased aircraft of an air carrier which is not subject to an operating ban, provided that the relevant safety standards are complied with".

EU source - with multiple language choice:
http://ec.europa.eu/transport/air-ban/

[Bralo20]

A while ago I was surprised that Hewa Bora (EO) (now dba FlyCongo) actually got their AOC back since it was revoked after the last crash. But now it seems that the Congolese CAA is finally stepping up and doing what it should have done in the past: getting rid of those unsafe planes and airlines. However, I wonder if it will help much, EO can easily sell the grounded planes to a foreign company (preferably a country that doesn't care to much about safety rather then money), have the planes get an airworthiness certificate in that country and wetlease them from that foreign company. I'm sure there are still countries who would issue a valid airworthiness certificate for some hard cash.

Oh well, at least it's a step in the right direction

[Duke]

Congolese CAA grounds 29 planes:

There seems to be some confusion between :
- AAC (Autorité d'Aviation Civile) : authority
- CAA (Compagnie Africaine d'Aviation) : airline

I don't think CAA (the airline) will ground its own planes...

I flew CAA 4 times last month (Kinshasa - Kisangani - Bumba vv) in both an A320 and a F50.
I'm not a technician nor an airline specialist.
But I did have a good impression of the airline.
I couldn't judge on how the planes were technically fit, but both types seemed to work properly, and the cabins were well maintained and cleaned. Inflight service was comparable to any European airline.
The F50 was an ex-KLM plane.
Check-in agents were very strict on controlling the weight of the luggage; however I don't know if this was because of fear of overloading the plane or because they wanted to get more income (as extra luggage was quite expensive, and nobody was really forced to leave luggage behind).

Regards,

Duke

[Bralo20]

I used CAA because we write in English like one would write the Belgian CAA for example. But I admit it's a bit confusion since there's a airline in Congo which is called CAA.

Mea culpa.

[Duke]

Any information about how Korongo has performed in its first full month of operation?

Thanks,

Duke

[Flanker]

The silence around Korongo says it all...

3 aircraft to serve a 8 weekly and twice weekly route respectively...advertised as a promotion at 299 usd... what a luxury Fortunately for Korongo, their planes don't have to fly too much because LTM doesn't like to fly Let's not even talk about those 146's...

The real money is in connecting those smaller cities to the capital and they definitely need to be much more pushy if they want to get somewhere.

Place your bets on load factors, I will go with average of 27-33%.
And I'm an optimist...

[Passenger]

A while ago I was surprised that Hewa Bora (EO) (now dba FlyCongo) actually got their AOC back since it was revoked after the last crash. But now it seems that the Congolese CAA is finally stepping up and doing what it should have done in the past: getting rid of those unsafe planes and airlines. However, I wonder if it will help much, EO can easily sell the grounded planes to a foreign company (preferably a country that doesn't care to much about safety rather then money), have the planes get an airworthiness certificate in that country and wetlease them from that foreign company. I'm sure there are still countries who would issue a valid airworthiness certificate for some hard cash.

Oh well, at least it's a step in the right direction

Confirmed by TourismUpdate South Africa:

Starting June 27, FlyCongo (previously Hewa Bora) will introduce flights between Johannesburg and Kinshasa. The new owners of Hewa Bora (EO, now called FlyCongo), have turned the company around offering a new, safer product to travel to the DRC. FlyCongo has resumed domestic flights in the DRC on March 19 this year, and is now starting operations to OR Tambo on June 27. FlyCongo serves Kinshasa, Lubumbashi , Kisangani, Goma, Mbandaka and Gemena in the DRC. To improve safety and offer more consumer peace of mind, the FlyCongo aircraft are now maintained by one of the leading aviation maintenance organisations in South Africa. FlyCongo will fly to Johannesburg via Lubumbashi on Wednesdays and Saturdays with return flights on Thursdays and Sundays. FlyCongo (EO) has appointed Airline Control Systems (ACS) as its GSA in South Africa.

Source:
http://www.tourismupdate.co.za/NewsDeta ... wsId=64083

[sn26567]

FlyCongo to Start Johannesburg Service from late-June 2012

FlyCongo starting 27JUN12 will begin service to Johannesburg, with twice weekly Kinshasa – Lubumbashi – Johannsburg operation on board Boeing 767-200ER. The airline was launched in March 2012 after the demise of Hewa Bora Airways.

Schedule:

EO031 FIH0900 – 1215FBM1315 – 1530JNB 762 3
EO061 FIH0900 – 1215FBM1315 – 1530JNB 762 6

EO042 JNB1020 – 1235FBM1345 – 1500FIH 762 4
EO072 JNB1020 – 1235FBM1345 – 1500FIH 762 7

Source: Airline Route

With a 767 it will be strong competition for Korongo !

[sdbelgium]

Korongo Airlines from 01SEP12 is adjusting its operations which sees flight and capacity increase.

Details:

Lubumbashi – Johannesburg Service increases from 2 to 4 weekly
ZC123 FBM0730 – 0945JNB 733 4
ZC123 FBM1510 – 1730JNB 733 137

ZC124 JNB1130 – 1350FBM 733 5
ZC124 JNB1845 – 2105FBM 733 13
ZC124 JNB1850 – 2110FBM 733 7

Lubumbashi – Kinshasa All 6 weekly flights operate with 737-300, instead of 3 weekly each 737/Bae146
ZC101 FBM0730 – 0850FIH 733 137
ZC105 FBM1655 – 1845FIH 733 256

ZC102 FIH1020 – 1340FBM 733 137
ZC106 FIH1945 – 2305FBM 733 256


Source: airlineroute.com

[Inquirer]

Good to see them increase flights to Lubumbashi.

I don't think this is their full schedule, because otherwise what is the BAE146 used on; it's all 737!

[sdbelgium]

Yes, indeed. These are just the routes that will see frequency increases.

[sn26567]

Yes, indeed. These are just the routes that will see frequency increases.

Fine, but which are the other routes? They have been announced, but I never heard one them being implemented...

[Inquirer]

I've seen that second BA146 of theirs doing some scheduled flights recently, so I take it is is being readied to be flown over? If that is the case indeed, then they may be getting ready to start some shorter routes in Congo?

[sn26567]

Korongo Airlines from 01SEP12 is adjusting its operations which sees flight and capacity increase.

Simultaneously, FlyCongo (ex-Hewa Bora) is introducing the Boeing 767 on the Johannesburg route

FlyCongo B767 - Photo Skyliner Aviation

AxN4R0wCIAAt5HS.jpg (20.47 KiB) Viewed 5784 times

[Bel33]

I meet during last week a minister of the Kasaï and she confirm me that the flights between Kisangani and Lubumbashi and/or Kinshasa will be operated by Korongo very soon.
This minister and his colleague of Katanga confirm also the success of Korongo!
Nice to hear that from congolese authorities!

[tolipanebas]

Lubumbashi – Kinshasa All 6 weekly flights operate with 737-300, instead of 3 weekly each 737/Bae146

ZC101 FBM0730 – 0850FIH 733 137
ZC105 FBM1655 – 1845FIH 733 256

ZC102 FIH1020 – 1340FBM 733 137
ZC106 FIH1945 – 2305FBM 733 256

The reason the flights on days 256 are currently operated by Bae146, is that only approved enroute alternate between FIH and FBM is unacceptable for operations after sunset at present; the Bae146, being a quad, does not need to have an enroute alternate in case of an engine failure in flight, contrary to the twin engined 737.

Going for a 737 on these flight too means the extensive works to upgrade Mbuji-Mayi are nearing completion, which in turn is good news for the launch of scheduled operations there...

[webstermc]

They now changed their banner on their website announcing they will launch soon
- 4 flights to Johannesburg
- The new destinations Kolwezi and Mbuji-Mayi

Other than the banner, no info is found on their website about this news, so no frequencies or launch dates are known yet.

[DannyVDB]

Hi all,
The banners changed again and announces also 3x weekly Kinshasa-Johannesburg!
Cheers,
Danny

[webstermc]

Indeed, but this is with a stop at Lubumbashi. Their destination page is now adapted as well (only for the new johannesburg frequencies, not for Kowezi & Mbuji-Mayi)

http://www.flykorongo.com/destinations-horaires/