note

National airline of Democratic Republic of Congo was founded with the help of SABENA using Douglas DC-4s and DC-6s. There was another company called Air Congo which operated in Congo since 1930s. Many of aircraft Air Congo used in its beginnings were acquired from the defunct Air Congo. First jet was also SABENA provided Boeing 707 which was introduced on Kinshasa - Brussels route in 1963. In 1967 SABENA sold its stake. Air Zaire found new partner in Pan American World Airways and acquired some of their Douglas DC-8s. In 1971 Democratic Republic of Congo changed to Zaire, so Air Congo adopted new title Air Zaire in October of that year. In 1973 Air Zaire received its first wide-body, a Douglas DC-10. Air Zaire operated domestic network as well as Abidjan, Conakry, Douala, Lagos, Libreville, Lome, Luanda and Nairobi in Africa. Paris, Rome and Athens were served in Europe along the Brussels route. Following the company's backruptcy, SABENA and South African investors tried to team up with the government to create New Air Zaire. The company was eventually reorganised as Lignes Aeriennes Congolaises (LAC) which started flying in 1997.

founded - demised (age)

June 28 1961 - 1996  (35)

headquarters

, Kinshasa

web

base airports

FZAA N'djili International Kinshasa

related operators

SABENA	Cofounder
Pan American World Airways	Technical assistance
Lignes Aériennes Congolaises	Successor