Trans Air Congo
Encyclopedia
Trans Air Congo is a scheduled passenger and cargo airline
based in Pointe-Noire
, Republic of Congo. Trans Air Congo has interline agreements with South African Airways
, Air Gabon
and Air France
. It currently operates some services on behalf of Air Gabon
.
aircraft. Early services were largely between Brazzaville
and Pointe Noire. In December 1994 an Antonov An-24
joined the fleet, followed in 1996 by a Boeing 727
and Yakovlev Yak-42D
. Late 1997 saw the airline having to move temporarily to Johannesburg
in South Africa
to avoid a civil war.
Airline
An airline provides air transport services for traveling passengers and freight. Airlines lease or own their aircraft with which to supply these services and may form partnerships or alliances with other airlines for mutual benefit...
based in Pointe-Noire
Pointe-Noire
Pointe-Noire is the second largest city in the Republic of the Congo, following the capital of Brazzaville, and an autonomous department since 2004. Before this date it was the capital of the Kouilou region . It is situated on a headland between Pointe-Noire Bay and the Atlantic Ocean...
, Republic of Congo. Trans Air Congo has interline agreements with South African Airways
South African Airways
South African Airways is the national flag carrier and largest airline of South Africa, with headquarters in Airways Park on the grounds of OR Tambo International Airport in Kempton Park, Ekurhuleni, Gauteng. The airline flies to 36 destinations worldwide from its hub at OR Tambo International...
, Air Gabon
Air Gabon
Air Gabon was the national, state-owned airline of Gabon, operating out of Libreville International Airport to a variety of destinations across Western and Southern Africa, as well as to Europe and the Middle East....
and Air France
Air France
Air France , stylised as AIRFRANCE, is the French flag carrier headquartered in Tremblay-en-France, , and is one of the world's largest airlines. It is a subsidiary of the Air France-KLM Group and a founding member of the SkyTeam global airline alliance...
. It currently operates some services on behalf of Air Gabon
Air Gabon
Air Gabon was the national, state-owned airline of Gabon, operating out of Libreville International Airport to a variety of destinations across Western and Southern Africa, as well as to Europe and the Middle East....
.
History
It was established on 24 August 1994 by the El-Hage family and started services with a single Let 410L-410
The Let L-410 Turbolet is a twin-engined short-range transport aircraft, manufactured by the Czech aircraft manufacturer LET, mostly used for passenger transport. Since 1969 more than 1100 airframes have been produced.-Development:...
aircraft. Early services were largely between Brazzaville
Brazzaville
-Transport:The city is home to Maya-Maya Airport and a railway station on the Congo-Ocean Railway. It is also an important river port, with ferries sailing to Kinshasa and to Bangui via Impfondo...
and Pointe Noire. In December 1994 an Antonov An-24
Antonov An-24
The Antonov An-24 is a 44-seat twin turboprop transport designed and manufactured in the Soviet Union by the Antonov Design Bureau from 1957.-Design and development:...
joined the fleet, followed in 1996 by a Boeing 727
Boeing 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...
and Yakovlev Yak-42D
Yakovlev Yak-42
The Yakovlev Yak-42 is a 100/120-seat three-engined mid-range passenger jet. It was designed as a replacement for several obsolete Aeroflot jets as a mid-range passenger jet...
. Late 1997 saw the airline having to move temporarily to Johannesburg
Johannesburg
Johannesburg 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...
in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
to avoid a civil war.
Services
Trans Air Congo operates services to the following destinations (at January 2005):- Domestic scheduled destinations: Brazzaville, Dolisie and Pointe Noire.
- International scheduled destinations: CotonouCotonou-Demographics:*1979: 320,348 *1992: 536,827 *2002: 665,100 *2005: 690,584 The main languages spoken in Cotonou include the Fon language, Aja language, Yoruba language and French.-Transport:...
in leasing with Trans Air Benin, DoualaDoualaDouala is the largest city in Cameroon and the capital of Cameroon's Littoral Province. Home to Cameroon's largest port and its major international airport, Douala International Airport, it is the commercial capital of the country...
and 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...
in leasing with Gabon Airlines.
Fleet
The Trans Air Congo fleet consists of the following aircraft (as of 20 November 2010) :- 2 Embraer Brasilia 120
- 4 Boeing 737-200Boeing 737The Boeing 737 is a short- to medium-range, twin-engine narrow-body jet airliner. Originally developed as a shorter, lower-cost twin-engine airliner derived from Boeing's 707 and 727, the 737 has developed into a family of nine passenger models with a capacity of 85 to 215 passengers...
- 1 Boeing 737-300Boeing 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...
Incidents and Accidents
- On 04 March 2005, an Antonov AN-24BAntonov An-24The Antonov An-24 is a 44-seat twin turboprop transport designed and manufactured in the Soviet Union by the Antonov Design Bureau from 1957.-Design and development:...
, registration EY-46399, ran off the runway at ImpfondoImpfondoImpfondo is a town in the north eastern Republic of the Congo with a population of around 20,000 people, lying on the Oubangui River. It is home to an airport and is linked by river barge to Brazzaville and to Bangui. It is the administrative centre of Impfondo District and the Likouala Region....
Airport in the Republic of the Congo, and into a field. The aircraft subsequently caught fire and burned, causing the airframe to be written off. The flight was scheduled to fly to the Brazzaville Maya-Maya AirportMaya-Maya AirportMaya-Maya Airport is an airport located in Brazzaville, the capital of the Republic of the Congo.In 2004, the airport served 447,699 passengers.-Airlines and destinations:-Accidents and incidents:...
.
- On 21 March 2011, a transport Antonov An-12Antonov An-12The Antonov An-12 is a four-engined turboprop transport aircraft designed in the Soviet Union. It is the military version of the Antonov An-10.-Design and development:...
on a flight from Brazzaville Maya-Maya AirportMaya-Maya AirportMaya-Maya Airport is an airport located in Brazzaville, the capital of the Republic of the Congo.In 2004, the airport served 447,699 passengers.-Airlines and destinations:-Accidents and incidents:...
to Pointe-Noire Antonio Agostinho Neto International AirportPointe Noire AirportAntonio Agostinho Neto International Airport , is an airport located in Pointe-Noire, Republic of the Congo. It is one of two international airports in the country, the other being Brazzaville Maya-Maya Airport.-History:...
, registered TN-AGK, carrying a crew of 4, crashed2011 Pointe-Noire Trans Air Congo An-12 crashThe 2011 Pointe-Noire Trans Air Congo An-12 crash occurred on 21 March 2011 when Antonov An-12 TN-AGK of Trans Air Congo crashed on approach to Pointe Noire Airport, Republic of the Congo. A total of twenty-three people were killed...
into the Mvou-Mvou residential area in Pointe-NoirePointe-NoirePointe-Noire is the second largest city in the Republic of the Congo, following the capital of Brazzaville, and an autonomous department since 2004. Before this date it was the capital of the Kouilou region . It is situated on a headland between Pointe-Noire Bay and the Atlantic Ocean...
, Republic of the CongoRepublic of the CongoThe Republic of the Congo , sometimes known locally as Congo-Brazzaville, is a state in Central Africa. It is bordered by Gabon, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo , the Angolan exclave province of Cabinda, and the Gulf of Guinea.The region was dominated by...
. According to sources with the Congo National Agency of Civil Aviation, the aircraft had been cleared to land, and was on a 3 mile final approach when it crashed. The Russian Embassy in Congo reported that the 3 Russian and 1 Kazakhstani crewmembers were killed in the crash. Local medical services report that 23 bodies have so far been recovered from the crash site, along with 15 injuries. Pre-accident pictures of TN-AGK can be seen at JetPhotos.net and Airliners.net.