Cetraca Aviation Service (CER, Beni) along with Katanga Express (Lubumbashi), Air Baraka, Gisair, Goma Express (Goma), GTRA Airways (Kinshasa N'Dolo), Lubumbashi Air Service (Lubumbashi), Pegasus Aviation (DR Congo), Sion Airlines and Tracep Congo Aviation (Goma) have all had their operating licences revoked by the Congolese Ministry of Transport with immediate effect.
The move comes after each of the airlines failed to satisfy Phases 3 & 4 (Document Evaluation & Demonstration and Inspection) of an IATA-endorsed recertification exercise aimed at improving the Central African nation's chequered safety record.
Commenting on the development, Justin Kalunga, the Democratic Republic of Congo's Minster of Transport, said that though the revocation of licences would drastically affect the availability of seats and flights, the resulting improvement in safety and reliability would be invaluable in saving human lives.
