Lignes Aeriennes Congolaises
Encyclopedia
Lignes Aériennes Congolaises (Congo Airlines) was the flag carrier
of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
between 1997, when it was established to succeed the folded Air Zaire
, and 2008, when it was disestablished.
The airline stood on the List of air carriers banned in the European Union.
In 1999, a contract with the Belgian
carrier City Bird to wet-lease a Boeing 767-300ER was signed. Under this agreement, the airline would serve the Kinshasa–Brussels route, with the Belgian carrier codesharing the service. Despite the agreement came into being for a five-year period, it was scrapped in November the same year.
–Lubumbashi
–Kinshasa route, actually operated by Air Zimbabwe
; the same agreement enabled Air Zimbabwe to place its code on the Kinshasa–Brussels service, operated by LAC.
, registration
9Q-CSG, that was due to operate a non-scheduled domestic Kindu
–Kinshasa passenger service, was shot down
by rebel forces near Kindu
shortly after take-off, killing all 41 occupants on board.
9Q-CNK, experienced an emergency landing
at Kilimanjaro Airport due to an engine failure; the aircraft was ferried to N'djili Airport in March that year, and it has apparently been out of service since then.
Flag carrier
A flag carrier is a transportation company, such as an airline or shipping company, that, being locally registered in a given country, enjoys preferential rights or privileges, accorded by the government, for international operations. It may be a state-run, state-owned or private but...
of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a state located in Central Africa. It is the second largest country in Africa by area and the eleventh largest in the world...
between 1997, when it was established to succeed the folded Air Zaire
Air Zaïre
Air Zaïre was the national airline of the African nation of Zaire. Its head office was located on the grounds of N'djili Airport in Kinshasa.-Air Congo:...
, and 2008, when it was disestablished.
The airline stood on the List of air carriers banned in the European Union.
History
The airline was setup in 1997, and started operations the same year.In 1999, a contract with the Belgian
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
carrier City Bird to wet-lease a Boeing 767-300ER was signed. Under this agreement, the airline would serve the Kinshasa–Brussels route, with the Belgian carrier codesharing the service. Despite the agreement came into being for a five-year period, it was scrapped in November the same year.
Destinations
Lignes Aériennes Congolaises (LAC) served the following destinations all through its history:- Belgium
- BrusselsBrusselsBrussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
- Brussels
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- KinshasaKinshasaKinshasa is the capital and largest city of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The city is located on the Congo River....
- LubumbashiLubumbashiLubumbashi is the second largest city in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, second only to the nation's capital Kinshasa, and the hub of the southeastern part of the country. The copper-mining city serves as the capital of the relatively prosperous Katanga Province, lying near the Zambian border...
- Kinshasa
- Nigeria
- LagosLagosLagos is a port and the most populous conurbation in Nigeria. With a population of 7,937,932, it is currently the third most populous city in Africa after Cairo and Kinshasa, and currently estimated to be the second fastest growing city in Africa...
- Lagos
- South Africa
- JohannesburgJohannesburgJohannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
- Johannesburg
- Togo
- LoméLoméLomé, with an estimated population of 737,751, is the capital and largest city of Togo. Located on the Gulf of Guinea, Lomé is the country's administrative and industrial center and its chief port. The city exports coffee, cocoa, copra, and palm kernels...
- Lomé
- Zimbabwe
- HarareHarareHarare before 1982 known as Salisbury) is the largest city and capital of Zimbabwe. It has an estimated population of 1,600,000, with 2,800,000 in its metropolitan area . Administratively, Harare is an independent city equivalent to a province. It is Zimbabwe's largest city and its...
- Harare
Codeshare agreements
There was a short-lived agreement between City Bird and LAC to codeshare the Kinshasa–Brussels route, operated by LAC but with City Bird equipment. Since late 2000, LAC codeshared the HarareHarare
Harare before 1982 known as Salisbury) is the largest city and capital of Zimbabwe. It has an estimated population of 1,600,000, with 2,800,000 in its metropolitan area . Administratively, Harare is an independent city equivalent to a province. It is Zimbabwe's largest city and its...
–Lubumbashi
Lubumbashi
Lubumbashi is the second largest city in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, second only to the nation's capital Kinshasa, and the hub of the southeastern part of the country. The copper-mining city serves as the capital of the relatively prosperous Katanga Province, lying near the Zambian border...
–Kinshasa route, actually operated by Air Zimbabwe
Air Zimbabwe
Air Zimbabwe is the national airline of Zimbabwe, headquartered in Harare. From its hub at Harare International Airport, the carrier operates a network within southern Africa that also includes Asia and London-Gatwick. The company is a member of the International Air Transport Association, and of...
; the same agreement enabled Air Zimbabwe to place its code on the Kinshasa–Brussels service, operated by LAC.
Fleet
Lignes Aeriennes Congolaises operated the following equipment all throughout its history:- ATR-42-320
- Boeing 707-320C
- Boeing 737-200CBoeing 737 ClassicThe Boeing 737 Classic is the name given to the -300/-400/-500 series of the Boeing 737 following the introduction of the -600/-700/-800/-900 series. They are short- to medium- range, narrow-body jet airliners produced by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. The Classic series was introduced as the 'new...
- Boeing 767-200ER
- Douglas DC-8-50
Accidents involving fatalities
: A Boeing 727-30Boeing 727
The Boeing 727 is a mid-size, narrow-body, three-engine, T-tailed commercial jet airliner, manufactured by Boeing. The Boeing 727 first flew in 1963, and for over a decade more were built per year than any other jet airliner. When production ended in 1984 a total of 1,832 aircraft had been produced...
, registration
Aircraft registration
An aircraft registration is a unique alphanumeric string that identifies a civil aircraft, in similar fashion to a licence plate on an automobile...
9Q-CSG, that was due to operate a non-scheduled domestic Kindu
Kindu
Kindu is a town in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the capital of Maniema province. It has a population of about 200,000 and is situated on the Congo River at an altitude of about 500 metres, and is about 400 km west of Bukavu....
–Kinshasa passenger service, was shot down
1998 Lignes Aériennes Congolaises crash
The 1998 Lignes Aériennes Congolaises crash refers to a non-scheduled domestic Kindu–Kinshasa passenger service that was shot down by rebel forces, just after take-off from Kindu Airport, during climbout, on . All 41 occupants of the aircraft perished in the accident.-Aircraft:The aircraft involved...
by rebel forces near Kindu
Kindu
Kindu is a town in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the capital of Maniema province. It has a population of about 200,000 and is situated on the Congo River at an altitude of about 500 metres, and is about 400 km west of Bukavu....
shortly after take-off, killing all 41 occupants on board.
Non-fatal hull-losses
: A Boeing 737-298C, tail numberAircraft registration
An aircraft registration is a unique alphanumeric string that identifies a civil aircraft, in similar fashion to a licence plate on an automobile...
9Q-CNK, experienced an emergency landing
Emergency landing
An emergency landing is a landing made by an aircraft in response to a crisis which either interferes with the operation of the aircraft or involves sudden medical emergencies necessitating diversion to the nearest airport.-Types of emergency landings:...
at Kilimanjaro Airport due to an engine failure; the aircraft was ferried to N'djili Airport in March that year, and it has apparently been out of service since then.