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    Afae Congo

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF or read online from Scribd
    Flag for inappropriate content
    7 views3 pages

    Afae Congo

    Uploaded by

    MLR123
    Afae Congo

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF or read online from Scribd
    Flag for inappropriate content
    of 3
    AIR TRANSPORT With a little help from Air France, Congo Airways is mapping out a safer future for the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s notoriously deadly skies. Martin Rivers spoke to deputy chief ecutive Jerome Maillet about the one-year-old flag-carrier’s progress. DRC flag-carrier waves goodbye to the past «Un adieu au passé pour le porte-drapeau dela RDC » — Page 24 sirline tegistered in the Democratic Republic ofthe Congo (DRC) tobe granted an intemmationally recognised air operator's certificate (AOC). The flag-cartier now plans to lunch regional light sin the fourth quarter ‘expanding beyond its existing domestic Footprint “Thefact that DRC’ Civil Aviation Author (CAA) previously lacked the rechnical expertise toissue ADCS one ofits core regulatory eneies and salfoy lapses that havelong dogged the court: There have been at east 24 airerat crashes inthe DRC since the tur of the decade, claiming 167 lives and dragging own Africa overall airsaety record. Yet, despite being notorious for lax standards, the continents second-largest ‘country remains hugely attractiveaviation ‘market - boasting territory the siz of Western Europe, a populationof 85min, and an _average economic growth rte of 8% por year be Congo Airways became the frst gaaga Having boen set up with help from Air France Consulting, state-owmed Congo Airways is now leading the charge tounlock te sector's true potential “The ag-carier began operations in October 2015 and has, todate, received S100 million of Start-up capital from the goverament, most of ‘which went on acquiring to Airbus A520s and two Bombardier Dash Q400s, As wellas reforming DRC’ tainted reputation overseas, management is confident that tcan usher ina new eraof prosperity at home. “Weareat the right moment really o grow thisairine, and to tur a page from the past.” ‘explained Jerome Maile, Congo Airways ‘deputy chief executiveand accountable manager. “Webave the stong fundamentals, we know where we want to go, and the idea! toexecute, Ourissue, as with any start-ups having perfect execution.” 22 Congo Airways presently igs between eight ‘domestic paints: capital city Kinshasa, Goma, Kananga, Kindu, Kisangani Lubumbashi, Mbbandaka and Mbuj-Mayi- Both A520ssnd one ‘Q400are based in Kinshasa in the west, while the second 0400 operates from Gomain the eas Negotiations over an onder for“several brand, new” marrow-bodies have reached an “advanced” stage, withthe aim being to deploy 10single-aislenircrat by the end ofthe decade Fleet commonality willbe preserved in order to keep cost and complexity low, though ‘management docs not rule ou sequiting some stotched A32Ks, gaaga Asked about planned route launches, Mallet said that Johannesburg in South Afienand Luandain Angola would become the fist intemational destinations in December Other regional points being considered include Pointe Noein Congo- Brazzaville, Douala in Cameroon, and Libreville in Gabon, Domestic expansion will meanwhile, focus on four cities: ania, Kalemie, Bakar a = pendinguperade ofr ihting equipmentat insainpor ~Gemena “Domestic isa bigmarket forus. We have sets of more than one-and-t-hl hours, so when we say domestic’ like regional for other carvers," he alfirmed. “Butithelps because thats good forthe ‘economies ofthe airline, Usually domestic routes are really lossmaking. Thisis not the ease inthis country. The domestic routes area foundation to build a sustainable operation and ‘hat will help us goutsde, internationally and regionally Despite the attractive yiels on offer for many intemal DRC routes, Congo Airways is {exercising caution before entering new markets ‘Theallure of profits has at times, prompted ‘questionable decisions by its local rivals, ‘compromising safety sande and wlimately “The mandate we haves really towork on sae: which is the core of any fine,” Mail suossed, "It meansa ot in the BRC because, ‘unfortunately the country bas been plagued by poor accident statistics. We have been working very hard to raise the standards.” Mbuji-Mayi in south-central DRC isone ‘macabre case study. Last December, Congo Airways suspended A320 flights othe city after its inspectors determined hat theainport runway was poorly maintained. ‘Other airlines aed to follow suit lackingany instructions from the CAA ~ and withindays a fatal incident had occurred. An A310 freighter ‘overshot Mbui-Mayi'srunsay on Casts Eve, ploughingintancerbyhoues and klingcight people. The disaster camejustfourmonthsafiera Boeing 757-500 operated by Korongo Ais, GROWTH “We are at the right moment really to grow this airline, and to turn a page from the past. JEROME MAILLET thenow-efunet foal partner of KLM, was damaged by loose tannacslabs at thesame airport we CAA sald you can go [and operate the route] but we said we arenot happy,” Maile recalled Now we have resumed this destination thanks to the Q400, but we don’ want to place anartow-body ito this city. Our competitor [FIYCAA] continues tofly there [with A520. fanlyets],and we have nothing to sy about it cate about isthat we dl ot ‘Welost money not sere very happy because we could demonstrate isnot just words when we say we place saety sour core vals.” A similar story s unfolding in Gemens, where the “totally crazy” yields on offerhave failed to overshadow managements concerns about fire ightingequipment “Others are flying: they are very happy: ally booked,” Mallet shrugged. "Fairenough, good for them, But thats not how we want to play This [safery-conseious approach] isthe vision of {hoch of states itis the vision of the prime ‘minister. It serves Congo Airways, i serves the CAA, it serves the county and it serves to bring back eed and wespectabiy, ggaga Congo Airways an afford to take the high ground over such matters thanks tits hancialy song shareholder, bat Mallet [knows that the government will not be writing large cheques forever “To the contrary, officials are already talking to prospective investors about a 20-25% part privatisation of the lag carter. Ethiopian Aislnes boss, Tewolde Gebremariam. has publicly announced his involvement i the [process The Addis Ababa based airline previously planned tocstablisha Subsidiary im DRC, uildingona (Coin regional partnership stratgy that 7 23 AIR TRANSPORT CONTINUED FROMPAGE22 has sem it aque stakes in Togo's Asky Airlines and Malawian Airlines, Mallet detned io comment on spexific nogotations bu conimmed tht “najor players inthe industry” areengage with the generrment Aftican and Middle Easteminvesorsbaveshown the most interes besa, while Asianenttesarealsointhe running Air Fncehssrudoutbuyingequityin Congo Airways. ‘With poticalinerioense annem problem ‘acros Alc the deputy chief eccutive praised Kinshasa “hard” pooch to munagement “TheGovemment uxestandstisnaisobtorunan siting,“ hostesed “Twantsprateestocnenee endoonducthe ste “One wayof undtning tis comers

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