Brussels Airlines (SN, Brussels National) has reportedly shown the strongest interest in partnering the Congolese government in forming a new national carrier to replace the now defunct LAC - Lignes Aériennes Congolaises (Kinshasa N'Djili) but has not committed to anything. According to The African Aviation Tribune, of the four potential partners approached, which included Ethiopian Airlines (ET, Addis Ababa International) and Kenya Airways (KQ, Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta), the Belgians had shown the greatest interest but were adamant that any new airline would necessarily have to use partner Korongo Airlines (Lubumbashi) facilities in both Kinshasa N'Djili and Lubumbashi. It is to be recalled that predecessor Sabena (Brussels National) had also entered into a partnership with the then-Zairean government to create a new airline to be called "New Air Zaïre" though this deal came to naught. No mention was made of any progress in previously announced talks with Turkish Airlines (TK, Istanbul Airport). The DRC had hoped to have a deal cut and dry by May with the new airline airborne by June. As such, Kinshasa has reissued a tender to all interested parties & carriers closing on August 31.