Congo Airways (8Z, Kinshasa N'Djili) is set to make its international debut during the last quarter of this year the official Agence Congolaise de Press (ACP) news service has reported.

Effective November 1, the state-owned national carrier of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) plans to operate a multiple-weekly service between Kinshasa N'Djili and Johannesburg O.R. Tambo, South Africa using A320-200 equipment.

The announcement follows the carrier's recent acquisition of an Air Operator's Certificate (AOC), a mandatory component when applying for international service rights.

Earlier this year, Sales and Marketing Director, Norbert Sengamali, said Johannesburg would be among the carrier's initial regional services alongside Luanda 4 De Fevereiro, Angola, and Pointe Noire in Congo (Republic of). Thereafter, Addis Ababa International, Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta, Lagos, and Abidjan would also be considered in the medium term, he said adding that by 2018, Congo Airways would begin intercontinental flights using widebody aircraft.

At present, Congo Airways operates two A320-200s and two Dash 8-400s on flights throughout the DRC.