Trans Air Cargo Service is a Congolese cargo airline headquartered in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. The airline operates one Douglas DC-8 throughout the Democratic Republic of the Congo to deliver freight.https://www.tacscargo.com It is one of the last two remaining operators of the DC-8.

History Katale Aero Transport was the predecessor of Trans Air Cargo, founded in 1978 by Domaine de Katale. Transair Cargo was founded in 1992 by Jacques "Kiki" Lemaire. The airline ceased operations in 1998 due to a civil war and was renamed TAC Air Services, causing it to move to Rand in South Africa. Max Lemaire moved the airline back to the DRC in 2004 and renamed it to Trans Air Cargo Service. In 2026 a DC-8 was retired from the fleet.

Fleet Current fleet , Trans Air Cargo Service operates the following aircraft: +Trans Air Cargo Service FleetAircraftTotalOrdersNotesDC-8-73CF1—

Former fleet Source:

6x Douglas DC-8 3x Douglas DC-6 3x Douglas DC-4 2x Sud Aviation Caravelle 2x Boeing 707 2x Bristol Britannia 1x Vickers Viscount 1x Boeing 737-200 1x Antonov An-26 1x Antonov An-32 1x Grumman G-159 Gulfstream I 1x Nord 262 1x Boeing 727

As Katale Aerotransport Source:

5x Bristol Britannia 1x Boeing 707 1x Canadair CL-44

Destinations Trans Air Cargo Service operates services to Bukavu, Bumba, Gbadolite, Gemena, Goma, Kamina, Kananga, Kindu, Kinshasa, Kisangani, Lisala, Lodja, Lubumbashi, Mbandaka, Mbuji-Mayi and Tshikapa.https://www.tacscargo.com

Accidents In 1981 a DC 4 crashed beyond repair in Lisala.

On March 1, 1990, a 707-320 registered as 9Q-CVG crashed in Goma 38 meters short of the runway. The crew failed to realize that they were short of the runway and upon impact the right gear was torn off as the aircraft slid for 300 before coming to a rest with no fatalities. The aircraft had Manufacturer's Serial Number 19162, and was built in 1966.

On August 8, 2004, the Caravelle crashed on landing at Gisenyi Airport's 1000 metre long runway. The aircraft was charted by the Celtel company to transport telecommunications equipment to Goma but diverted. The aircraft was built in 1968 and had MSN 251. However Waltair and a Mr. K. Lemaire may also have owned the caravelle.

On September 8, 2026 the DC 8 in service with the airline suffered a runway excursion damaging the aircraft, currently it is suspected to be a write off.

See also List of airlines of the DRC

References