Korongo Airlines: THE END

[Boeing767copilot]

http://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/news/ ... sh-capital

[jan_olieslagers]

And here is the article they are referring to (in Dutch). It names Ethiopian Airways as a potential shareholder. As it is already two weeks old, hasn't it been mentioned here before?

http://deredactie.be/cm/vrtnieuws/economie/1.2336576

[LJ]

And here is the article they are referring to (in Dutch). It names Ethiopian Airways as a potential shareholder. As it is already two weeks old, hasn't it been mentioned here before?

It was, mentioned on May 11th by sn26567 (though no link to the original article).

However, if the decision would be taken within a week than we would know by now if they're going to do this. Seems like things take some more time or the capital increase is not going to happen. Anyway old news.

[sn26567]

A nice article about Korongo in the serious African magazine Jeune Afrique:

http://www.jeuneafrique.com/mag/241729/ ... mais-sano/

Korongo is still on the European blacklist (which does not evaluate airlines, but the national organisation of civil aviation), but things seem to move in the right direction with a new runway in FBM and the imminent entry into service of a new control tower.

[Bralo20]

Korongo has cancelled their flights until the August, 26 due an incident with OO-LTM which was damaged:

Chers Passagers, Chers Partenaires,

Korongo Airlines a le regret de vous annoncer l’annulation de ses vols jusque à ce mercredi 26 août 2015.
Le stabilisateur horizontal de notre avion a été sérieusement touché par des plaques de bitume projetées lors du décollage de l’aéroport de Mbuji Mayi.

Nous avons saisi les autorités responsables au sujet de la non-conformité de la piste de Mbuji Mayi car cet accident qui a affecté notre aéronef risque de se reproduire constituant ainsi un risque sérieux pour tous les exploitants de cet aéroport.

Nos passagers se voient offrir le remboursement de leur billet ou une réaccomodation sur le prochain vol Korongo disponible. Nous communiquerons plus d’informations par email et par sms dès que le nouvel horaire sera confirmé.

Nous vous présentons nos plus sincères excuses pour les désagréments causés.

Nous vous remercions pour votre compréhension, votre patience et votre confiance continue et nous vous assurons que nos équipes mettent tout en œuvre pour vous donner l’assistance nécessaire.

Pour plus d’information, N'hésitez pas à contacter votre agence Korongo Airlines la plus proche.

Votre équipe Korongo Airlines

[Passenger]

Korongo has cancelled their flights until the August, 26 due an incident with OO-LTM which was damaged:

Chers Passagers, Chers Partenaires,
...
Korongo Airlines a le regret de vous annoncer l’annulation de ses vols jusque à ce mercredi 26 août 2015.
Le stabilisateur horizontal de notre avion a été sérieusement touché par des plaques de bitume projetées lors du décollage de l’aéroport de Mbuji Mayi.
...

Just a few days ago, Kinshasa's Radio Okapi wrote on its website that DR Congo has a long way to go before ICAO (and the EU/EASA) will clear them:

"...La RDC fait partie des seize pays dont les transporteurs aériens connus font l’objet d’une interdiction totale d’exploitation dans l’UE. Cette mesure est prise au regard des 18 annexes de la convention de Chicago de 1944 relative à l’aviation civile. Ces annexes portent notamment sur la licence du personnel (annexe 1), les cartes aéronautiques (annexe 4), les télécommunications aéronautiques (annexe 10) et les aérodromes (annexe 14). Selon les inspecteurs de l’Organisation de l’aviation civile internationale (OACI), la plupart des pays africains dont la RDC, ne respectent pas ces normes. En 2006, le taux d’exécution de ces normes par la RDC était de 11%. Actuellement, il est évalué à 26%. L’OACI exige un taux d’exécution d’au moins 60% pour qu’un pays soit retiré de la liste noire..."

http://www.radiookapi.net/2015/08/18/ac ... de-lairbus

[sn26567]

Korongo has cancelled their flights until the August, 26 due an incident with OO-LTM which was damaged

Korongo Airlines has suspended flights until August 26 at the earliest following an incident involving its sole aircraft - B737-300 OO-LTM (msn 25070) on lease from partner Brussels Airlines.

The Congolese carrier said in a statement that the aircraft's horizontal stabilizer sustained serious damage on take off from Mbuji Mayi on August 21. The jet was subsequently grounded to allow for repairs during which time all flights have now been cancelled.

Korongo blamed the incident on loose bits of runway tarmac and warned that unless steps were taken to rectify the situation, it may boycott the airfield in future.

"We have taken the relevant authorities to task about the non-compliance of Mbuji Mayi's runway," the carrier said. "Since this incident, which has affected our aircraft, could be repeated, it thus constitutes a serious risk to all operators who use the airport."

Source: ch-aviation

[Bralo20]

The cancellation has been extended until September, 4:

Dear Passengers, Dear Partners,

Due to the damage to our plane caused on August 19th 2015 by loose tarmac slabs on the runway of Mbuji-Mayi and following preliminary reports from our Maintenance & Engineering team we are forced to extend the cancellation of our flights until September 4th 2015 inclusive. Our replacement aircraft usually leased from our South African partner is unfortunately not available, as a consequence we offer a refund of the tickets or a free rebooking on the next Korongo Airlines flight available, for which we hope to soon confirm a schedule.

We regret for any inconvenience that such interruption may cause in this end of school holidays period and assure you that our teams will continue, day after day, to do everything possible to give you the necessary assistance.

Furthermore we are continuing our efforts with the Congolese aeronautical authorities to take urgent measures to rehabilitate the runway at Bipemba Airport - Mbuji-Mayi in order to avoid any repetition of such incident in strict compliance with the recommendations of the International Civil Aviation Organization.

Please accept our sincere apologies and thank you for your understanding.

For more information, please contact your nearest Korongo Airlines agency.

Your team Korongo Airline

[Flanker2]

What a mess...

[sn26567]

The beginning of the end?

[Bralo20]

The beginning of the end?

Not sure about that, in the end, Korongo Airlines is nothing more than an airline that serves Groupe Forrest International.

[crew1990]

Why do not sent an A319 overt there to assure at least the service between Lubumbashi, Kinshasa and Johannesburg?

[Flanker2]

I thought that too but it's probably an administrative mess... insurance, permits, crew requirements, lessor approval, etc...

[crew1990]

Why would it be a problem, they already wet lease an aircraft of safair when the OO-LTM was in check, why do not doing it again, if it was a few days ok, but now we are speaking of begin September.

[RoMax]

They say the Safair aircraft is not available. To me it seems like they can't use just any aircraft to replace LTM. Why wouldn't they otherwise. I can't believe they don't do it for financial reasons or whatever because terminating your whole operation for such a period has such a huge impact already that I can't think it can be worse.

[Passenger]

They say the Safair aircraft is not available. To me it seems like they can't use just any aircraft to replace LTM. Why wouldn't they otherwise. I can't believe they don't do it for financial reasons or whatever because terminating your whole operation for such a period has such a huge impact already that I can't think it can be worse.

Indeed. Safair doens't lease out 737's anymore because they have started own scheduled daily operations in South Africa at the end of last year (as FlySafair). And as a OO-operator, I think that Korongo is only allowed to use non-EU-banned airlines.

[sn26567]

The damage caused recently to a Korongo Airlines B737 aircraft at Bipemba Airport in Mbuji-Mayi, Congo, when loose runway tarmac slabs hit the stabilizers of the plane as it sped down the runway for takeoff, appears to be more extensive than initially thought.

The airline had hoped to resume their flights with the single aircraft they operate on routes from Lubumbashi to Johannesburg, Kinshasa, and Mbuji- Mayi before the end of the month, but it has extended its flight suspensions until at least September 4.

While Korongo has been diplomatically silent on laying blame on the Congolese aviation authorities and the airport management of Mbuji- Mayi, other aviation sources have left no doubt in communications to this correspondent that they consider those responsible for the maintenance of the airport’s runway and regulatory oversight as utterly incompetent and negligent. Wrote one on condition of anonymity to avoid being harassed and singled out for retaliation: “This incident could have led to a much more serious accident, not just damage to the aircraft itself. In a worst-case scenario the result could have been loss of lives. It is clear that minimum safety standards which are required by ICAO have not been met, and that is almost criminal. They were all just very lucky.”

While Korongo has tried to lease an aircraft – the airline is EASA approved and as such cannot and will not just lease a plane from any source unless it is operated under equally safe standards – this was reportedly not successful and has prompted the prolonged flight suspension.

http://www.eturbonews.com/62971/extensi ... ly-thought

[crew1990]

While Korongo has tried to lease an aircraft – the airline is EASA approved and as such cannot and will not just lease a plane from any source unless it is operated under equally safe standards – this was reportedly not successful and has prompted the prolonged flight suspension.

http://www.eturbonews.com/62971/extensi ... ly-thought

Then my question again why do not send an RJ100 to Lubumbashi. As they have the same standard of safety.

[RoMax]

Taking an aircraft out of the regular BRU based fleet on short notice in late August to send it to DRC? Not gonna happen for sure. Korongo is not the same as SN despite the ownership and strategic partnership. Korongo can request SN for another ACMI solution until LTM is back on line, but if SN is unable to provide the right service, that's it. It's not exactly a period when many airlines have an aircraft on spare for 'emergency' operations like this.

[crew1990]

Taking an aircraft out of the regular BRU based fleet on short notice in late August to send it to DRC? Not gonna happen for sure. Korongo is not the same as SN despite the ownership and strategic partnership. Korongo can request SN for another ACMI solution until LTM is back on line, but if SN is unable to provide the right service, that's it. It's not exactly a period when many airlines have an aircraft on spare for 'emergency' operations like this.

Of course but now all the flight of Korongo are cancelled, but even when the OO-LTM will be fixed there will be the problem of the runway in Mbuji-i don'tknowwhat, so Brussels Airlines could send something in September when the peak season will be over