ECAIR - Equatorial Congo Airlines (EQR, Brazzaville) is set to wet-lease two B737-700s from Swiss operator, PrivatAir (Switzerland) (Geneva), ahead of its planned expansion into Central and West Africa.

The former Aeroméxico (AM, México City International) machines will join the Congolese carrier's other four Privatair-operated aircraft - two B737-300s and two B757-200s - used to serve Oyo Ollombo International and Pointe Noire in the Republic of Congo as well as Cotonou Cadjehoun, Douala, Dubai International and Paris CDG internationally.

A partnership with Lufthansa (LH, Frankfurt International) subsidiary, Lufthansa Consulting, ECAIR employs Swiss registered and maintained aircraft as a means of skirting a blanket ban imposed on all Congolese-based operators by the European Union.