Cargolux (CV, Luxembourg) has confirmed it will start regular, direct Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), cargo flights with effect from September 15 onwards.

In a statement, the Luxembourg-based freight specialist said the weekly service would operate direct from Luxembourg to Lubumbashi on the inbound sector. The outbound, however, will operate via Johannesburg O.R. Tambo, Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta, and London Stansted. The aircraft to be used was not disclosed but will either be a B747-8(F) or B747-400(F) freighter.

Once inaugurated, the route will mark the DRC's second largest city's only intercontinental service, whether passenger or cargo.

Located in the deep south of the DRC, Lubumbashi is largely cut off from the rest of the country and is thus forced to rely on Zambia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa for its import and export corridors.

According to the ch-aviation route database, Lubumbashi's international coverage extends to Addis Ababa International (via Ethiopian Airlines), Johannesburg O.R. Tambo (via South African Express), Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta (via Kenya Airways), and Ndola International (through Ethiopian Airlines and Kenya Airways).