airDC: new airline in the Congolese skies
The new Congolese airline set up by Hewa Bora Airways together with the Brussels Airlines group by means of its Mauritius subsidiary Pan African Airlines, will carry the name 'airDC'. The first 'airDC' commercial flights for passengers are foreseen early 2008. The creation of this company, that will become a reference in terms of security, punctuality and reliability, was warmly welcomed by the public in Congo and by the Congolese community abroad.
The name ‘airDC’ is a reference to ‘RDC’ (French acronym for Democratic republic of Congo - DRC), highlighting the Congolese identity of this new airline. airDC thus becomes an airline for the entire Congolese community that will offer scheduled flights between the capital Kinshasa and the vast Congolese territory.
'airDC' will also operate international flights in Africa and will offer, in cooperation with Brussels Airlines, a link with Europe and Brussels Airlines' extended network
More information about the destinations and the frequencies will be available soon. The company plans to start its flight operations early 2008. The necessary preparations regarding operations and organisation are currently under way.
The precise date for the launch of the flight operations will be defined after all maintenance facilities are set up at N'Djili airport, complying with international standards, such as the JAR145 standards as they are known in the industry.
airDC will operate according to international standards with a fleet comprising Boeing 737 and BAE 146 aircraft from its home base at Kinshasa N'Djili airport. Safety, punctuality and reliability are the key values on which the airline will be built. The company itself will also provide ground and handling operations at every Congolese airport where it will land.
Philippe de Moerloose (of Hewa Bora Airways) and Michel Meyfroidt have been appointed Co-Chairman of the Board.
The daily management of the company is in the hands of Johan Maertens, who was appointed CEO of airDC. Until recently, Johan Maertens was African Projects Manager for Brussels Airlines. Stavros Papaioannou, CEO of Hewa Bora, will hold the function of 'Administrateur-Général'. In that capacity, he will put his vast experience in the local airline industry at the service of airDC, in particular in view of its relations with the Congolese authorities.
airDC was created by the Congolese Hewa Bora Airways and by the Brussels Airlines group, by means of its Mauritius subsidiary Pan African Airlines. Hewa Bora Airways holds 51 percent of the shares and Brussels Airlines the remaining 49 percent.