Congo Airways (8Z, Kinshasa N'Djili) has denied reports in the international media claiming its second A320-200 - EI-DSN (cn 3412) - was forbidden from leaving Dublin International last week on the orders of an Irish court.

"False rumours have been circulating about the seizure of our second A320 in Europe," the start-up said in a statement last week. "Congo Airways wishes to inform you that all formalities have been met for its delivery. We are to receive it in Kinshasa during the course of next [this] week."

The Irish Times stated that a US firm, Miminco LLC, and two US citizens John Dormer Tyson and Ilunga Jean Mukendi had obtained the order following a USD11.5 million dispute with the Congolese government over the ownership of two diamond mines they bought.

The government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is Congo Airways' primary shareholder with various parastatals owning the majority of shares in the carrier.

Having taken delivery of another ex-Alitalia (AZA, Rome Fiumicino) A320-200 late last month, Congo Airways had planned to launch operations on August 20. That date, however, has passed with no sign of activity as yet.