Brussels Airlines announced that it has found a structural solution for refuelling at Kinshasa airport in The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on Wednesday, meaning that scheduled flights can now be carried out as planned.
The company, much like other airlines, was affected by supply limitations of kerosene at the Congolese capital's airport, which resulted in the cancellation of a flight going from Kinshasa to Brussels on Monday and saw non-residents being stranded in hotels.
Since then, Brussels Airlines has been looking for structural solutions as this limitation will remain in force until mid-September. This news comes at a time when the carrier is looking to expand its operations.
On Wednesday, a structural solution was found during various local meetings in the DRC, which means Kinshasa-Brussels flights can be carried out as planned. Certain alternative flights will be scheduled through the Lufthansa group, Brussels Airlines' parent company.
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Flights between Brussels and Kinshasa are of strategic importance for the airline. Flight SN358 had to be cancelled on Monday due to a fuel purchase limitation imposed in the DRC. Just under 300 passengers were on board and non-residents had to be relocated to hotels in Kinshasa.
Brussels Airlines is looking for solutions to bring them back to Belgium, a difficult task as the next flights between the two capitals are fully booked.
The limitation of 35,000 litres (or 28 tonnes) of kerosene per aircraft, imposed by local fuel suppliers on airlines, is currently in force until mid-September, the company further specified.
Brussels Airlines is therefore working on a structural solution “to continue to guarantee its flights to and from the DRC."
