Kinshasa announces Air France as strategic partner in new airline

 Air France is set to partner the Congolese government in its quest to find a successor to the now defunct LAC - Lignes Aériennes Congolaises. The joint-venture is scheduled to kick in effective January 2014. 

Congolese Prime Minister Matata Ponyo met with Frank Legre, the head of Air France's African operations to discuss the creation of the carrier, according to a statement published on the website of the prime minister’s office on Wednesday. 

Mr Ponyo is noted as having urged the French carrier to get involved in the creation of a domestic company as quickly as possible. As it stands, the launch of a new Congolese national carrier would add to Air France's growing portfolio of African carriers after Air Côte d'Ivoire and a still pending 30% stake in the start-up, Air CEMAC.

Source: CH-Aviation