Airline Name
Air ZaireIATA: QC / ICAO: AZR / Callsign: AIR ZAIRE
Country of Origin
Democratic Republic of the Congo (Congo-Kinshasa or at the time Zaire)Zaire flag,
Aircraft Types Used (from those available in WoA)
B741 (747-100) (1 operated, leased from Pan Am),Not in-range unless from northern airports but it would likely be an event airline so this is irrelevant,
B732 (737-200) (7 operated),
Not in-game,
DC10 (Douglas DC 10-30) (2 operated in colours, 1 more leased),
At ZRH,
DC83 (Douglas DC 8-32/3) (2 operated),
DC85F (Douglas DC 8-54F) (1 operated),
DC86F (Douglas DC 8-63CF) (2 operated),
S210 (Sud Aviation SE210 Caravelle),
Why should this airline be added?
Founded in 1961 as the newly formed First Congolese Republic’s flag carrier, this airline began life as Air Congo, with regional aircraft acquired for flying around the country and to neighbouring countries and a 707 operated by and owned by Sabena on behalf of the airline, flying from Léopoldville (Today’s Kinshasa, it was changed on Mobutu’s taking of power) to Brussels (Sabena had a 30% stake in the airline and provided all maintenance and equipment). The airline was due to get off the ground earlier and had trouble in its first years due to the Congo Crisis but this all came to a sudden halt when a military coup (The second one btw by Mobutu) took over the government, installing General Mobutu as president.In 1971, Mobutu formally changed the country’s name to Zaire with the airline following suit, remaining in power until 1997 and his ousting by rebel forces. The airline was declared bankrupt on 12 June 1995 by a Brussels court after incurring debts to the value of BFr 1 billion, of which Sabena was a major creditor. The ruling was disputed by President Mobutu, who said that a Belgian court did not have the right to declare a Zairian company bankrupt and threatened to close Sabena’s office in Kinshasa in retaliation. In 1998, it was reported that the airline had a total debt of BFr 1.5 billion. Mobutu was also known for commandeering aircraft for his own use for shopping trips in Europe, as per a report in Spring 1973 where he took the only 747 the airline operated and had it fly him to West Germany, whilst having his wife put aboard a commandeered DC-10 from the airline leaving it short of aircraft.
The airline also retained the Air Zaire name until 1997 when it was renamed to New Air Zaire and restructured and relaunched by Sabena and Swissair, changing its name shortly after the country formally changed its name later in the year, to Lignes Aériennes Congolaises.
The airline operated flights using its 747 and later DC 10’s, to Rome, London, Paris, Brussels, Madrid, Athens and Geneva (Though it did fly into Zurich from time to time).
It would be an interesting airline to add to the game, having a long history and a host of different aircraft types. The 747-100 would be a great addition as a special, potentially with the 737-200 or in the future if we get the DC-10’s or DC-8’s, with one of them.