Written by: Badr Ahmed

The President of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Felix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo, witnessed the welcoming ceremony of a new Boeing 787-800 Dreamliner aircraft belonging to the national carrier Air Congo, at N'djili International Airport in the capital Kinshasa, in a move that reflects the government's efforts to develop the aviation sector and enhance air connectivity between Congo and the world.

The reception ceremony took place on the tarmac of N'djili International Airport, where the President watched the arrival of the new aircraft designated to operate the Kinshasa-Brussels route, as part of the strategic partnership between Air Congo and Ethiopian Airlines, which aims to support the national carrier and develop its operational services.

The President of the Democratic Republic of Congo receives a Boeing Dreamliner.

The new aircraft is the sixth to join the company’s fleet, as part of a plan to expand its operational capabilities and improve air transport services. It can accommodate more than 260 passengers, including 24 business class seats, thus providing a higher level of comfort for passengers on international flights.

The aircraft is scheduled to take off on its first commercial flight to the Belgian capital, Brussels, marking a new phase in the Democratic Republic of Congo's efforts to strengthen its presence in the regional and international air transport sector and expand its network of foreign flights.

Prior to the aircraft's arrival ceremony, President Tshisekedi inspected the rehabilitation work on the domestic terminal at N'djili International Airport, where he reviewed the progress of the development work, which included upgrading the airport's facilities and raising their efficiency in accordance with international standards for the safety, security, and comfort of passengers.

The development work showed the completion of the rehabilitation of the main squares and facilities at the airport, as part of an integrated project aimed at improving the quality of services provided to passengers and raising the efficiency of the airport's infrastructure, in line with the expected growth in air traffic during the coming years.

Congolese authorities confirmed that the modernization of Ndjili Airport is part of the national program for developing airport infrastructure in the country, which aims to modernize airports according to the latest international standards and enhance the Democratic Republic of Congo’s ability to attract more international flights and investments in the aviation sector.

These steps reflect the government’s direction towards modernizing the air transport system, supporting the national carrier, and transforming airports into more efficient gateways to support trade, tourism, and investment, thereby contributing to driving economic development and enhancing the Democratic Republic of Congo’s position as a regional air transport hub in Central Africa.