Lignes Aériennes Congolaises (2005–2013)

Not to be confused with Lignes Aériennes Congolaises (1997–2003).

Lignes Aériennes Congolaises (English: Congolese Airlines), also known by its acronym LAC, was an airline of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with its head office in Kinshasa, and its central administration on the property of N'djili Airport in Kinshasa.^[3] The carrier has the latter airport as the base of its flight operations. It was liquidated in 2013.^[4]

Lignes Aériennes Congolaises

IATA ICAO Call sign 4V[1] LCG[2] CONGOLAISE
Founded	2005 (2005)
Ceased operations	2013 (2013)
Hubs	N'djili Airport
Destinations	11
Parent company	Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Headquarters	Kinshasa
Website	www.lacrdc.com

Along with all other airlines registered in the country, the company was banned from flying into any member state of the European Union's bloc.^[2]

History

Formed by the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 2005, it was the successor of an airline with the same name that folded in 2003, but had a different air operator's certificate.^{[citation needed]}

The carrier started operations in 2005 with LAC - SkyCongo aircraft flying on LAC's behalf. It was shut down in 2006, following an accident with a Convair 580,^[5] but was reactivated under a joint venture with Bravo Airlines. When this latter airline folded in 2007, LAC was idle once again. It apparently restarted operations in June 2008 (2008-06), this time with chartered equipment from Air Zimbabwe.^[1]

Destinations

The company served the following destinations as part of its scheduled services:^[6]

• Angola
  • Luanda
• Cameroon
  • Douala
• Democratic Republic of the Congo
  • Goma
  • Kananga
  • Kindu
  • Kinshasa
  • Kisangani
  • Lubumbashi
  • Mbuji Mayi
• Mali
  • Bamako
• Nigeria
  • Lagos

Fleet

The airline had no active aircraft on its fleet.^[1] LAC operated the following equipment throughout its history:^[1]

• Boeing 737-200
• Convair 580F
• Lockheed L-1011-50
• MD-82

Accidents and incidents

• 27 April 2006: A Convair 580F, registration ZS-SKH, that was flying a Goma–Amisi cargo service, crashed on approach to Amisi Airport, killing all eight occupants aboard.^[7]

See also

• Transport in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

References

1. "Profile for: Lignes Aériennes Congolaises". AeroTransport Data Bank. 6 March 2013. Archived from the original on 11 June 2022. Retrieved 2 December 2011.
2. "List of airlines banned within the EU" (PDF). European Commission. 4 December 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 November 2012.
3. "Contact Info Archived 23 January 2012 at the Wayback Machine." Lignes Aériennes Congolaises. Retrieved 8 January 2012. "Siège Social: 4, avenue du Port, KINSHASA – GOMBE. République Démocratique du Congo" and "Administration centrale : Aéroport international de N'Djili"
4. "RDC : un avion des Lignes Aériennes Congolaises cloué au sol" [The only aircraft of Lignes Aériennes Congolaises is grounded] (in French). 21 August 2015. Archived from the original on 27 September 2016.
5. "LAC - SkyCongo". Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
6. "Horaire" [Timetable] (in French). Lignes Aériennes Congolaises. Archived from the original on 8 August 2011. Retrieved 2 December 2011.
7. Accident description for ZS-SKH at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on 2 December 2011.

External links

• Lignes Aériennes Congolaises (in French)