KAMPALA, UGANDA – The Brussels Airlines Group is pushing up its stakes in DR Congo with a minority buy in.
The Belgian carrier with 2.800 employees recently acquired a 49% minority stake in Hewa Bora Airways, one of the country’s leading airlines based in Barumbi, Kinshasa with regional and domestic services.
Hewa Bora Airways Group, retaining the remaining 51%, flies to Brussels, Doula, Johannesburg, Lagos, Lome and Abuja.
Brussels Airlines purchased the sizeable stake through its affiliate, the Mauritius based Pan African Airlines Leasing Company Ltd that is specialised in the development of African aviation projects and aviation partnerships.
“We are very happy that we can build, together with our partners, a new airline project for the Congo that will become in no time the aviation reference of the country,” said Brussels Airlines CEO Mr. Philippe Vander Putten in a statement.
Although there are no details about the cost of transaction or when the new airline will commence operations, a license from the authorities has been granted.
With a fleet of 49 aircraft and connecting its home base at Brussels Airport with over 50 European destinations, Brussels Airlines will provide both management resources and operational know how to Bora Howa.
Market commentators say that the European carrier will use Hewa Bora’s in-depth experience in the country with the latter even selling tickets on the Kinshasa – Brussels service operated by Brussels Airlines through a code share agreement.
Hewa Bora had 13 different aircraft as at March 2007.
“Brussels Airlines will share all its operational knowledge, acquired during 80 years of aviation experience in Africa, with the new company,” added Vander Putten.
The new found relationship will help unlock DR Congo’s vast hinterland to the rest of the world thus creating more business opportunities in one of Africa’s largest countries.
“Collaboration with Brussels Airlines allows us to create synergies and transfers of know how from both sides, so as to join the best of our both world,” Hewa Bora Airways CEO Mr. Philippe de Moerloose said in the same statement.
About two months ago, the European carrier announced that it would increase its flights into the East African region in December from 11 to 15.
In the new frequency structure, the Brussels – Entebbe route will now have four flights, Brussels – Kigali three and Brusslels- Bujumbura two.
To maximise its operations, Nairobi will lose its Sunday flight to Entebbe and Bujumbura after the scaling down on the Brussels – Nairobi flights from six to five a week is implemented.
Currently the Brussels – Entebbe, Kigali and Bujumbura routes have three, two and one flight per week respectively.
Back in April, 2007 the Belgian carrier commenced a weekly Sunday service to Burundi, making it the 15th African route for the airline and the only direct flight into the country by a European carrier.
Prior to the Burundi operations, Brussels Airlines took to the skies on Sunday, March 25 as a new entity following the merger of Virgin Express and SN Brussels last year.
Brussels Airlines has but only a sales sales-presence in the country tthrough partnership with Precision Air.
West and Central Africa are also beneficiaries in the new flight schedule.
Weekly flights between Brussels – Monrovia (Liberia) and Brussels – Abidjan (Ivory Coast) will be increased to four each while Brussels – Conakry (Guinea Republic) and Brussels – Yaounde (Cameroon) will be doubled to two respectively.
The airline will also improve its existing flights into DR Congo with the introduction of non-stop flights from Brussels – Kinshaha.
