Air Congo has relaunched service between Kinshasa and Brussels (capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Belgium respectively) for the first time in over 25 years, circumventing an EU ban on Congolese carriers by signing a "wet lease" agreement with Ethiopian Airlines. Under the arrangement, Ethiopian Airlines provides a Boeing 787 aircraft along with its crew, maintenance, and insurance, allowing the route to operate legally since the Ethiopian carrier is not subject to European airspace restrictions. The Congolese transport ministry has described the deal as a temporary measure while the country works toward fully meeting international aviation safety standards; Air Congo also has ambitions to launch routes to Paris and Dubai, though the latter faces complications after the UAE imposed travel and visa restrictions on DRC nationals in early June 2026 as part of Ebola prevention measures.