ECAir (Equatorial Congo Airlines), the new national flag carrier of the Republic of the Congo, entered into service and took-off on 24 September 2011 with its premiere flight between the country’s capital Brazzaville and the port city of Pointe-Noire. Lufthansa Consulting managed the complete start-up process preparation and thus continues its successful cooperation with the Congolese Government.

In previous projects, Lufthansa Consulting has already provided consultancy in supervising the concession project of the country’s three main airports and in developing the conception of an “Airport City” at the airport in Brazzaville named Maya Maya Village. The airline start-up project now marks another milestone in the long-standing relationship with the Government of the Republic of the Congo.

ECAir commences operations three times a day, seven days a week on the Brazzaville-Pointe-Noire route with a Boeing 737-300, which has a capacity of 120 seats, configured in a 12 business class and 108 economy class seat version. The Brazzaville-based airline’s operations will be accompanied by the leading business aviation company and private jet operator, Swiss’ PrivatAir.

“Our desire is to serve as a locomotive for the modernization of the aviation sector in the region and to ensure a quality level that meets international standards in aviation," says ECAir’s Chief Executive Officer Fatima BEYINA-MOUSSA, economist and Advisor to the Minister of Finance, Budget and the Public Portfolio.

Lufthansa Consulting developed a comprehensive five year business plan including the future network and fleet structure for the new airline. Furthermore, the consultants ensured adherence to international high quality and safety standards and also created the carrier’s overall design concept.

The opening of further routes to international destinations and the acquisition of additional aircraft are planned.