Turkish Airlines (TK, Istanbul Airport) has been approached by the Democratic Republic of the Congo's government over the possible setting up of a joint-partnership national airline to replace the now bankrupt LAC - Lignes Aériennes Congolaises (Kinshasa N'Djili). According to Congo's Radio Okapi, a team of Congolese functionaries are due in Istanbul before the end of the month to discuss a possible deal with the Turks, who have yet to confirm their interest in the venture. Kinshasa had previously set June as the planned date for the launch of the renewed national airline. Earlier this year, Congolese Minister for Transport, Justin Kalumba, said the airline's launch, coupled with a renewed infrastructural upgrade programme, would help improve the overall efficiency and safety of Congo's skies.