@@VisualApproach Sam Chui would have done a flight r̶e̶v̶i̶e̶w̶ "showcase" where he has the absolute perfect flight with absolutely nothing wrong. No hate to both youtubers, they cater to different sides of the trip review industry - Cahill emphasises the good and the bad as a review while Chui shows what the perfect flight would look like, as well as showcasing interesting aviation aspects
The opening street scenes in Kinshasa were crazy and that tone then continued through the remainder of the video. I'd never heard of Lubumbashi - how you found this flight and had the courage to make this journey deserves an award.
@@gabrielhoolans7127 I mean that fair, every city hs better and worse quarters, but Kinshasha overall just looks bad, even compared to neighboring Brazzaville
I'm amazed the one dude knew my hotel from a couple street shots, but yea... its a tough place. I don't doubt there are better areas of the city, but even in my exploration around the city, it's tough to find many places I'd consider "nice". It would be great to see them take advantage of the vast natural resources in the DRC and build a true worldwide capital city. They've certainly got the potential for it
I love how calm your voiceover was when they kicked you out of your seat. If Josh Cahill would have been kicked out of the seat, he would have made such a scandal and trash the airline sooo much...😅
I stopped supporting JC a year ago. I’m over his crap and don’t enjoy his reviews as they’ve gotten to be all about hate. If I had his viewership I’d temper the YT videos and if I felt a very serious violation I’d contact the airline directly. I’m surprised he isn’t on more “denied” lists
Josh would complain to the chancellor of Germany. He’s currently trying to get an ET pilot fired. Flown ET to North America and Middle East. No problem at all. My man will sniff out a problem and escalate.
Couldn’t stomach JC holier than thou attitude, and that was 2 years ago. Can only imagine what he’s like now. Patrick goes with the flow and still keeps us informed and entertained. Well done sir.
The only good airport here in congo is goma intl. The problem is if you want to come here In goma you must be ready to deal with the current situation (war,etc)
CAA existed when I worked in the DR Congo in 2002 - 2004. Their aircraft were Russian at that time, and what was amazing was they would load goats, chickens and bags of dried fish into the rear of the plane. So you can imagine the aroma. Refreshments were a quart bottle of Skol beer and a cheese roll. I used to do the Mbuji Mayi/Lubumbashi/Kinshasa/Mbuji Mayi circuit every month. My preferred airline was Hewa Bora, followed by Wimba Dera, but as a last resort, CAA. All of those airports were utter chaos, but fascinating at the same time. Kinshasa's runway was extremely bumpy, and from your video, it sounds like it still is.
These places are very much NOT for beginners. If you’re ready to pay a pretty penny for pre-arranged handlers / door to door service it still may shock you what you’re going to deal with and in a second things can change dramatically. I appreciate that Patrick covers the fragmented Africa market as we that focus on traveling to all of it are always looking for updates on product shifts and his peers are also focusing on the market quite a bit. Josh Cahill likes to make everything about himself as gay men do, so I appreciate the calm tenor and taking personality out it.
I like you’re reviews and you’re in-depth explanation and all the information of the aircraft’s and the country’s they are based in. You are awesome man, you are one of my favorite reviewers!
I'm half Congolese , living in Chicago and working for UA. I appreciate your positivity, but the aviation industry in DRC is horrible, they need to wipe out Ndjili airport and all of those Airlines then restart it from scratch. but apparently they trying in some cities. Kisangani airport just be refurbished and it looks like they did a decent job with it, Kolwezi Airport just opened a brand new terminal with international standard. By the way CAA is owned by an American family named Blatter.
Interesting! I'd love to see Kinshasa become a great global city. They've got the means to do it, they just need the right people in charge of it all... including the airport. Looking forward to another visit in the future!
@@PatrickSheaAviation they have some videos of those 2 airports on Google but they are in french. Also if you go back to Kinshasa hit me up, my family owns some boat restaurants that cruise around the river, I will see if they can bring you on one of them.
Patrick your my new favorite aviation reviewer.... I respect you for the calm reaction to the underwhelming experience. Flew to Congo once and things were bad. N'Djamena in Chad is the worse airport ever.
This was very interesting and you might be the first flight vlogger to make it to Kinshasa or Lubumbashi. Would be very interested to see what these cities are like. I've long fancied a trip to Kinshasa, but haven't yet made it.
It's actually my second video in the DRC, after flying here last year. Kinshasa is kinda wild. Most parts of the city you don't feel safe alone, and there was lots of quick theft. People snatching anything in eyesight and running off. Thankfully I had a local dude looking out for me on my first visit
Thanks for your understanding because your comments are really kind, trust me! Flying in the DRC is not only super expensive, but the experience is another challenge!
This was amazing! We all see the same old recycled airlines over and over. This was both refreshing and a great reminder that not every part of the world is as developed or has the same level of wealth we all take for granted.
You’re a brave man Patrick! Absolutely love your reviews too. I’m in need of a new carryon and I think Level 8 will be it. Another airline vlogger has a metal one but at over $1000 US it’s out of the question. Keep up the good work; I’d be more than happy to join a Patreon or YT paid membership
Thanks man! Great to hear! These Level8 carryons have proved useful for me in the recent months. I've tried the expensive ones as well, but my current carry on is one of my 2 Level8s! (hype even outside of the sponsorship)
@PatrickSheaAviation congarats for the video, I really enjoyed the video, found it informative and refreshing, you must have been a reporter in a past live😅 I like the video is different from what we are used to see. kudos man! Well done 👍🏽
Youx crack me up Patrick 😂. Large feet! I think they are number two in large feet. Sudan is the winner 🙃. You have lots of courage to travel there, and to take that plane. Safe travels mister.🎉🎉🎉
Wow. The state of the airplane is one thing, but the airport experience alone would have me over the edge. Unacceptable 😮. Glad the crew was nice. Another insightful video
Thanks man for the review. Having said that I don't see myself ever getting on board of any of these airlines. There is a select 3-4 in Africa which I trust enough to fly with - Ethiopian, Kenya, SAA and Royal Air Maroc
What an adventure! Your vlogs are captivating and always respectiful. A genuine reminder of aviation travel in the African continent with a side serve of Congolese chaos, localised corruption, and questionable safety standards.
Somebody may have posted this info on the 3 A330's of Fly CAA. A330-243 REG- 9S ASJ Leased from Carlyle Aviation Partners Miami. Originally operated with Cypress Airways(2002), then Air Europa (2012). Now operated by Fly CAA A330-302 REG- 9S-ABS Delivered 11/05/2022, then stored 08/2023 after an incident. Operated by China Airlines until purchased by Carlyle Aviation Partners in 2022 and leased to Fly CAA A33O-302 REG -9H-HFI leased out to HiFly Malta as 9H-HFI. Originally operated by China Airlines, HiFly operated it for CAA, Air Algerie
Fly CAA's existence is not only the perfect summation of African aviation, the airline combined with the airport operations are a perfect summation of Africa. The exceptions are few and far between. CAA flying to Europe? I do not think so and I doubt that Ethiopian will invest its resources in a Congolese airline. Thanks for the video, Patrick and hats off to you for being such a brave man!
Thanks man! FlyCAA does tell a story that's familiar in african aviation. We will see how the Ethiopian investment in the new DRC flag carrier goes... but no doubt there will be plenty disagreements between the governments if the track record holds true
First of all, Patrick, since it's Sunday night here in the Philippines while I'm typing this comment, advanced Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family! 🦃 If there's really one thing I would like to thank you for, it's bringing us to some peculiar places and unheard airlines through your flight reviews, and this definitely takes the cherry on top (not the title of a song from a famous girl group in my home country) when it comes to unique aviation experiences. And upon seeing the business class seats of FlyCAA, that's exactly what Philippine Airlines' high-density A330s are fitted in, minus the IFEs. At least, that particular seat has an adjustable headrest, unlike PAL's. I'm definitely not a fan of Stelia Equinox (the model type of those seats), but I get why some widebodies feature that type instead of the 1-2-1 setup. That particular model definitely fits in a narrowbody, but oh well.
I'm starting to believe that you know Africa better than me an African, making domestic trips in Africa? I have just had the chance to do that in my own country, Angola. Keep on doing this good job.
Patrick, you are one brave man. Thanks for being brave enough to fly that airline. Whenever I see a filthy cabin and dirty cups and utensils on an aircraft(very seldom), I start worrying if the maintenance of the working parts is as shoddy. This was an excellent snapshot of the state of commercial aviation in the DRC. How sad that is like this at this time. Maybe Ethiopian can help improve the situation but I'm afraid that the rampant corruption there will prevent any improvement. By the way, have a great Thanksgiving with your friends and family.
OMG, just when you think you have seen it all. I have always found people from Africa to be resourceful. I was once on a flight from Brussels to Freetown in Sierra Leone 😳 Flight itself wasn’t bad but the airport? My partner ended up getting an illness, I’ll spare you the details. The people were lovely and the chaos was just insane. Nice video.
Qatar also goes to Kinshasa . And connectivity wise they also have Kenya Airways , Ethiopian, TAAG, Uganda Airlines and SAA connecting them to outside world
That's fair, but I wouldn't call most of those "long haul" even if they are international. Good to see that Africa's larger carriers can cash in on this major city, but a shame that the DRC can't figure it out well enough to get a carrier of their own to fly these busy routes
Balls galore! Electing to book yourself on any Congolese flight is one thing, joyfully taking the ride after seeing the state of the equipment requires certain level of self dislike. FlyCAA is going nowhere outside of the Congo and you know that.
You were a very Brave Man!! As it stands there is NO chance they will be allowed to fly to Europe in their present state. I'm surprised AF/SN/TK deploy their aircraft there. Safety, corruption and so on. It's a shame because as you said the crew were so friendly, representing the DRC, but everything else is Seriously below all standards expected
Their int'l terminal was marginally better, but the Greyhound Bus Station in Southside Chicago is still nicer. Some serious work to do, but they've got the means to do it... just needs the right leaders for the project
How hot was it outside before takeoff. Here in Vegas sometimes when it’s too hot they have to let the gears cool before retracting them up. I see all Airbus do this.
I remember trying to cross into Zaire in 1995 while backpacking around Africa, we basically were told we would not get out alive... It appears lots of countries in Africa are a sleep away from some junta taking over....
I believe thesea re the same seats Royal Air Marroc uses, there might be a few other random Iberian/North African/Middle Eastern carriers that did too.
Excellent stuff! Just subscribed to you because that video was class! Maybe you could try doing a trip report to the Balearic Islands, I'm thinking to go there in the summer thanks to Volotea having flights from Salamanca to Palma 😄👍
Haven’t flown volotea but national flying in Spain is quite boring and standard, tight low cost seats in pretty much every airline from Ryanair to Iberia, complimentary service doesn’t exist in any airline flying inside peninsula and Balearic Islands but most will have some sort of buy on board.
Based on flights like this, I would not be surprised if Patrick just stopped uploading sometimes in the future. Unfortunately for him these contents are the reason I watch him, one needs variety in the sea of Qatar Q seat videos
I'm curious. And maybe you've answered this before. What brings you on interesting routes like this one? Is it just for the channel or you actually do a lot of other business on the continent?
Thanks for the video very interesting Dr Congo is a huge country , traveling by air is the most common way but the government should work hard to insure more safety and get new aircraft .
Great video! I was always curious about CAA, I see the a330! every times I land from EU. DRC is an extremely difficult country to do business, and Congolese are very unreliable as a staff, unlike other countries in Africa DRC is doing nothing to attract people with knowledge in aviation to go back and step up things. My mum she’s from DRC and EU is full of Congolese with expertise in aviation, in my Airport we are at least 3 people from different departments running operations we always discuss discuss about the possibility to move down and step up things but as of today the authorities don’t want the country to move forward opening opportunities. On the other side side I’m trying a land transport business but workers are unreliable, making growth slower.
Dang, that's interesting. It's definitely a tough place as a foreigner. I seem to become a "target" of sorts when I'm there. But it still makes for some interesting adventures at least
I'm glad you got home safely and aren't, you know, dead somewhere, oof, this whole thing is such a mess! It's a shame really. Such a gorgeous part of the world I'd love to visit but...nah.
Well the alternative was an arguement that would have gotten me stranded in Kinshasa. So the middle seat is really the lesser of two evils in this case
There is true First Class in the real sense and then there is Third World "First Class" which you flew on. Your shoes perfectly match the state of the cabin cleanliness. The breakfast just looked grim, shocking in fact. You don't want to risk it mate.
It's a wild experience, but with some tlc this could definitely work long haul... product-wise at least. Management may be a different issue, but I can't speak to that...
Much respect. I’ve only ever been to FIH with local escorts to navigate the chaos. I can’t imagine doing it domestically without help. DRC is a wild place. Have a level 8 case. Great product!
Kinshasa native here, living in the US since 2012. It's a shame to watch footage like this about my home city and overall my country. I think Goma & Kisangani airport are more decent. The level of greed and corruption going on with leaders have reached levels beyond imagination. They recently signed a contract with a small Turkish company that specializes in building airports for $1 billion (way over marked up), and they'll let the Turkish exploit Kinshasa airport renovated 40 years. Senegal & Angola have built modern airport in their capital cities for way less than that ($2-300 million range). To some extent, Congolese just deserve their leaders because they tolerate their BS. A country with such potential (human & natural), yet being one the poorest in the world, is very sad. Congolese people stand up, fight for your fate by kicking out those corrupt politicians.
Respect. This flight is absolutely scandalous, yet no sort of clickbait to be seen everywhere. Certain other aviation youtubers sould take notes!
I think I know who you're referring to by saying "other aviation RUclipsrs" 🤫
@@MqLei Josh Cahill would have done this flight and nearly died 20 seperate times.
@@VisualApproach Sam Chui would have done a flight r̶e̶v̶i̶e̶w̶ "showcase" where he has the absolute perfect flight with absolutely nothing wrong.
No hate to both youtubers, they cater to different sides of the trip review industry - Cahill emphasises the good and the bad as a review while Chui shows what the perfect flight would look like, as well as showcasing interesting aviation aspects
@@VisualApproachEse tipo de todo se queja hasta si el aire es más frío o caliente.
@@greyhound7148 indeed. Which is why I don’t waste my time anymore on the likes of Cahill
The opening street scenes in Kinshasa were crazy and that tone then continued through the remainder of the video. I'd never heard of Lubumbashi - how you found this flight and had the courage to make this journey deserves an award.
They have better areas in Kinshasa, I can tell he slept at the Memling hotel but that neighborhood has been neglected for decades.
@@gabrielhoolans7127 I mean that fair, every city hs better and worse quarters, but Kinshasha overall just looks bad, even compared to neighboring Brazzaville
I'm amazed the one dude knew my hotel from a couple street shots, but yea... its a tough place. I don't doubt there are better areas of the city, but even in my exploration around the city, it's tough to find many places I'd consider "nice". It would be great to see them take advantage of the vast natural resources in the DRC and build a true worldwide capital city. They've certainly got the potential for it
I love how calm your voiceover was when they kicked you out of your seat. If Josh Cahill would have been kicked out of the seat, he would have made such a scandal and trash the airline sooo much...😅
I can't watch that Cahill guy, lolol 😂. Patrick is super calm and humble
Facts
I stopped supporting JC a year ago. I’m over his crap and don’t enjoy his reviews as they’ve gotten to be all about hate. If I had his viewership I’d temper the YT videos and if I felt a very serious violation I’d contact the airline directly. I’m surprised he isn’t on more “denied” lists
Josh would complain to the chancellor of Germany. He’s currently trying to get an ET pilot fired. Flown ET to North America and Middle East. No problem at all. My man will sniff out a problem and escalate.
Couldn’t stomach JC holier than thou attitude, and that was 2 years ago. Can only imagine what he’s like now. Patrick goes with the flow and still keeps us informed and entertained. Well done sir.
Looks like I just crossed Lubumbashi and Kinshasa off my vacation plans.
along with 99% of the African continent.
@@alfrreddCape Town? The most beautiful city in the world 😂
@@alfrredd 99 is obviously an exaggeration unless you're from Wyoming or similar then it's understandable
The only good airport here in congo is goma intl. The problem is if you want to come here In goma you must be ready to deal with the current situation (war,etc)
@@alfrreddlower Zambezi in Zambia is perfect. You need to be more open minded.
You survived 👍. That’s about the best that can said.
😅
CAA existed when I worked in the DR Congo in 2002 - 2004. Their aircraft were Russian at that time, and what was amazing was they would load goats, chickens and bags of dried fish into the rear of the plane. So you can imagine the aroma. Refreshments were a quart bottle of Skol beer and a cheese roll. I used to do the Mbuji Mayi/Lubumbashi/Kinshasa/Mbuji Mayi circuit every month. My preferred airline was Hewa Bora, followed by Wimba Dera, but as a last resort, CAA. All of those airports were utter chaos, but fascinating at the same time. Kinshasa's runway was extremely bumpy, and from your video, it sounds like it still is.
Dang. Kinda fun history there. Sounds like CAA has never really been the best choice
What a shame: the DRC could be a wealthy country with a good airline. But corruption is so rampant....😢
It's tough to see. Especially with nearby nations really growing to their true potentials
They're hell bent on fighting immigrants instead of fighting their government who kept them in a mess.
These places are very much NOT for beginners. If you’re ready to pay a pretty penny for pre-arranged handlers / door to door service it still may shock you what you’re going to deal with and in a second things can change dramatically. I appreciate that Patrick covers the fragmented Africa market as we that focus on traveling to all of it are always looking for updates on product shifts and his peers are also focusing on the market quite a bit. Josh Cahill likes to make everything about himself as gay men do, so I appreciate the calm tenor and taking personality out it.
Unless if that beginner is from and lives in DRC for his/her entire life.
I like you’re reviews and you’re in-depth explanation and all the information of the aircraft’s and the country’s they are based in. You are awesome man, you are one of my favorite reviewers!
Amazing... After watching so many trip reports of all airlines, this is the first time I've ever heard about this airline... Great Video...
Thanks!
I like the KQ Emb190 winglet during the take off
I'm half Congolese , living in Chicago and working for UA. I appreciate your positivity, but the aviation industry in DRC is horrible, they need to wipe out Ndjili airport and all of those Airlines then restart it from scratch. but apparently they trying in some cities. Kisangani airport just be refurbished and it looks like they did a decent job with it, Kolwezi Airport just opened a brand new terminal with international standard. By the way CAA is owned by an American family named Blatter.
Interesting! I'd love to see Kinshasa become a great global city. They've got the means to do it, they just need the right people in charge of it all... including the airport. Looking forward to another visit in the future!
@@PatrickSheaAviation they have some videos of those 2 airports on Google but they are in french. Also if you go back to Kinshasa hit me up, my family owns some boat restaurants that cruise around the river, I will see if they can bring you on one of them.
Patrick your my new favorite aviation reviewer.... I respect you for the calm reaction to the underwhelming experience. Flew to Congo once and things were bad. N'Djamena in Chad is the worse airport ever.
Thanks homie. I appreciate it. Now you're makin me wanna check out N'Djamena lol...
I can't wait until I get my FlyCAA/Bank of Congo credit card! Patrick, this was by far your best: insightful, witty, and a little cringey. Well done!
Ha! Those FlyCAA rewards gunna hit hard lol... thanks man!
That's one of the flight from CAA Congo A330 that i wanted to see and that no youtube avgeek did thanks
Awesome! Now I gotta check out that Air Zim 762
This was very interesting and you might be the first flight vlogger to make it to Kinshasa or Lubumbashi. Would be very interested to see what these cities are like. I've long fancied a trip to Kinshasa, but haven't yet made it.
It's actually my second video in the DRC, after flying here last year. Kinshasa is kinda wild. Most parts of the city you don't feel safe alone, and there was lots of quick theft. People snatching anything in eyesight and running off. Thankfully I had a local dude looking out for me on my first visit
18:31 wait until you go to Goma 😂
Dang... I heard Goma was way easier than Lubumbashi
Thanks for your understanding because your comments are really kind, trust me! Flying in the DRC is not only super expensive, but the experience is another challenge!
Wow! The airport could not have been out of place in an Asterix the Gaul comicbook!
This was amazing! We all see the same old recycled airlines over and over. This was both refreshing and a great reminder that not every part of the world is as developed or has the same level of wealth we all take for granted.
Well put! Thanks man
What a superb review. Good job Patrick. Hope you had a good time in the DRC. Keep up the good job. Greetings from Costa Rica
Thanks! It was definitely a fun experience
That Business seems to be the same as in Philippine Airlines' high density A330's
You’re a brave man Patrick! Absolutely love your reviews too. I’m in need of a new carryon and I think Level 8 will be it. Another airline vlogger has a metal one but at over $1000 US it’s out of the question. Keep up the good work; I’d be more than happy to join a Patreon or YT paid membership
Thanks man! Great to hear! These Level8 carryons have proved useful for me in the recent months. I've tried the expensive ones as well, but my current carry on is one of my 2 Level8s! (hype even outside of the sponsorship)
I’m not surprised this is a Congo based airline .wow, just wow . anyway a very interesting flight report. Keep up the amazing work on this channel.
Great video Patrick - you certainly took one for team with this - you’re a brave young man - I would have zero patience with ANY of the fun and games
It takes a certain skill to brush it off. Motivated by doing whatever it takes to not get stuck there lol. Thanks man!
Great review mate, that certainly looked like quite a chaotic start to the journey in Kinshasa!
Ha thanks man. Kinshasa isn't for the weak
@PatrickSheaAviation congarats for the video, I really enjoyed the video, found it informative and refreshing, you must have been a reporter in a past live😅 I like the video is different from what we are used to see. kudos man! Well done 👍🏽
Thanks! It was definitely different from the average airline I fly with
Youx crack me up Patrick 😂. Large feet! I think they are number two in large feet. Sudan is the winner 🙃. You have lots of courage to travel there, and to take that plane. Safe travels mister.🎉🎉🎉
Thanks for the info + video!
Thankss!
Good job mate 👍 Thanks for sharing
Big prop to you Pat for your brave soul. I would've wetted my pants on this flight 😢
Lol it's a true adventure for sure! Thanks man
Wow. The state of the airplane is one thing, but the airport experience alone would have me over the edge. Unacceptable 😮. Glad the crew was nice. Another insightful video
Thanks man for the review. Having said that I don't see myself ever getting on board of any of these airlines. There is a select 3-4 in Africa which I trust enough to fly with - Ethiopian, Kenya, SAA and Royal Air Maroc
Never made to DRC, it its on my bucket list. Love the chaos
Very interesting video from a rarely seen location
Lots of the world to see! All with fun aviation markets... for better or worse
What an adventure! Your vlogs are captivating and always respectiful. A genuine reminder of aviation travel in the African continent with a side serve of Congolese chaos, localised corruption, and questionable safety standards.
Somebody may have posted this info on the 3 A330's of Fly CAA.
A330-243 REG- 9S ASJ Leased from Carlyle Aviation Partners Miami. Originally operated with Cypress Airways(2002), then Air Europa (2012). Now operated by Fly CAA
A330-302 REG- 9S-ABS Delivered 11/05/2022, then stored 08/2023 after an incident. Operated by China Airlines until purchased by Carlyle Aviation Partners in 2022 and leased to Fly CAA
A33O-302 REG -9H-HFI leased out to HiFly Malta as 9H-HFI. Originally operated by China Airlines, HiFly operated it for CAA, Air Algerie
Fly CAA's existence is not only the perfect summation of African aviation, the airline combined with the airport operations are a perfect summation of Africa. The exceptions are few and far between. CAA flying to Europe? I do not think so and I doubt that Ethiopian will invest its resources in a Congolese airline. Thanks for the video, Patrick and hats off to you for being such a brave man!
Ethiopian Airlines is investing in one of the Congo air carriers. I cannot wait to see how this goes.
Thanks man! FlyCAA does tell a story that's familiar in african aviation. We will see how the Ethiopian investment in the new DRC flag carrier goes... but no doubt there will be plenty disagreements between the governments if the track record holds true
Oh my 🐐 it's a wonder they didn't ask for volunteers to fly the plane. Glad you arrived safely. ❤ from Canada 🇨🇦
First of all, Patrick, since it's Sunday night here in the Philippines while I'm typing this comment, advanced Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family! 🦃
If there's really one thing I would like to thank you for, it's bringing us to some peculiar places and unheard airlines through your flight reviews, and this definitely takes the cherry on top (not the title of a song from a famous girl group in my home country) when it comes to unique aviation experiences.
And upon seeing the business class seats of FlyCAA, that's exactly what Philippine Airlines' high-density A330s are fitted in, minus the IFEs. At least, that particular seat has an adjustable headrest, unlike PAL's. I'm definitely not a fan of Stelia Equinox (the model type of those seats), but I get why some widebodies feature that type instead of the 1-2-1 setup. That particular model definitely fits in a narrowbody, but oh well.
I'm starting to believe that you know Africa better than me an African, making domestic trips in Africa? I have just had the chance to do that in my own country, Angola. Keep on doing this good job.
Ha! I've had my fair share of adventures, but only to Angola the one time
What an incredible trip.
Patrick, you are one brave man. Thanks for being brave enough to fly that airline. Whenever I see a filthy cabin and dirty cups and utensils on an aircraft(very seldom), I start worrying if the maintenance of the working parts is as shoddy. This was an excellent snapshot of the state of commercial aviation in the DRC. How sad that is like this at this time. Maybe Ethiopian can help improve the situation but I'm afraid that the rampant corruption there will prevent any improvement. By the way, have a great Thanksgiving with your friends and family.
Thanks! It's definitely sad to see, but easy to see why it happened. Part of the sinister undertones of management in the region unfortunately
Kinshasa Lubumbashi in Zaire in Africa besides Congo, Central African Republic, Ethiopia, Eritrea. CAA interesting airline the airplane
OMG, just when you think you have seen it all.
I have always found people from Africa to be resourceful.
I was once on a flight from Brussels to Freetown in Sierra Leone 😳 Flight itself wasn’t bad but the airport? My partner ended up getting an illness, I’ll spare you the details.
The people were lovely and the chaos was just insane.
Nice video.
Thanks man! Well put. You can find the gems amidst the chaos all throughout places like this
Qatar also goes to Kinshasa . And connectivity wise they also have Kenya Airways , Ethiopian, TAAG, Uganda Airlines and SAA connecting them to outside world
That's fair, but I wouldn't call most of those "long haul" even if they are international. Good to see that Africa's larger carriers can cash in on this major city, but a shame that the DRC can't figure it out well enough to get a carrier of their own to fly these busy routes
Balls galore! Electing to book yourself on any Congolese flight is one thing, joyfully taking the ride after seeing the state of the equipment requires certain level of self dislike. FlyCAA is going nowhere outside of the Congo and you know that.
I love an adventure but you are a braver man than I.
Lol... it's all a part of the stories
Great as always
Thanks!
You were a very Brave Man!! As it stands there is NO chance they will be allowed to fly to Europe in their present state. I'm surprised AF/SN/TK deploy their aircraft there. Safety, corruption and so on. It's a shame because as you said the crew were so friendly, representing the DRC, but everything else is Seriously below all standards expected
Their int'l terminal was marginally better, but the Greyhound Bus Station in Southside Chicago is still nicer. Some serious work to do, but they've got the means to do it... just needs the right leaders for the project
Thank you Patrick.
Thanks!
Dude. You are a trooper. That airport looks like a nightmare - esp. since you don't speak French.
The language barrier just adds that *extra level* of chaos lol
Patrick always doing gods work🤙🏽. I might’ve to cross out DRC on my future trips 😬😂
Lol... depends if you live for the chaos or not. You'll definitely leave the DRC with plenty of stories (and a lot of missing cash in my experience)
18:58 omg the state of the plane 😢 and open doors without stairs😅
How hot was it outside before takeoff. Here in Vegas sometimes when it’s too hot they have to let the gears cool before retracting them up. I see all Airbus do this.
That's interesting. I hadn't thought of it from that point of view. I wouldn't imagine that that was it. Only about 80*F at the time
I remember trying to cross into Zaire in 1995 while backpacking around Africa, we basically were told we would not get out alive... It appears lots of countries in Africa are a sleep away from some junta taking over....
Loving African airline content !
I'm telling y'all man...this man be really looking like a rapper with that backwards hat...like when he was talking about black friday at 5:25
I believe thesea re the same seats Royal Air Marroc uses, there might be a few other random Iberian/North African/Middle Eastern carriers that did too.
@ 11:51 aircraft looked like it had kenya Airways livery..
Yeah. That was a KQ Embraer winglet, not CAA.
Nice aircraft on the ground
Excellent stuff! Just subscribed to you because that video was class! Maybe you could try doing a trip report to the Balearic Islands, I'm thinking to go there in the summer thanks to Volotea having flights from Salamanca to Palma 😄👍
Haven’t flown volotea but national flying in Spain is quite boring and standard, tight low cost seats in pretty much every airline from Ryanair to Iberia, complimentary service doesn’t exist in any airline flying inside peninsula and Balearic Islands but most will have some sort of buy on board.
Thanks man. Great to have you here! I gotta check that out
Based on flights like this, I would not be surprised if Patrick just stopped uploading sometimes in the future. Unfortunately for him these contents are the reason I watch him, one needs variety in the sea of Qatar Q seat videos
Lol I gave the Q suites my best effort twice but Qatar screwed me over... but experiences like this are why we do it for sure!
I'm curious. And maybe you've answered this before. What brings you on interesting routes like this one? Is it just for the channel or you actually do a lot of other business on the continent?
When air côté d’ivoire gets there Airbus a330neo you should try their new first class product.
I'd LOVE to. But we haven't heard anything about them in a long long time
Patrick. Can you please tell me the model name for the carryon from level 8?
The one in the video is the Grace Expandable Luggage. I've also used their Luminous Textured Luggage (which I covered in my Hawaiian Video recently)
@ I just bought the all aluminum frame and shell “Gibraltar” carry on. Thanks for the information
Yahh I think each and every one of us came to conclusion to cross out DRC and CAA on our future trips 😅😂
The business class seems to be an older version of Air Europa’s business class on their A330
For having flown on it a few times I recall indeed some references linked to Air Europa indeed
You’re bold for flying FlyCAA haha!
Thanks for the video very interesting
Dr Congo is a huge country , traveling by air is the most common way but the government should work hard to insure more safety and get new aircraft .
Great video! I was always curious about CAA, I see the a330! every times I land from EU. DRC is an extremely difficult country to do business, and Congolese are very unreliable as a staff, unlike other countries in Africa DRC is doing nothing to attract people with knowledge in aviation to go back and step up things. My mum she’s from DRC and EU is full of Congolese with expertise in aviation, in my Airport we are at least 3 people from different departments running operations we always discuss discuss about the possibility to move down and step up things but as of today the authorities don’t want the country to move forward opening opportunities. On the other side side I’m trying a land transport business but workers are unreliable, making growth slower.
Dang, that's interesting. It's definitely a tough place as a foreigner. I seem to become a "target" of sorts when I'm there. But it still makes for some interesting adventures at least
Saw her at YUL a few times this summer. Don’t know why she was there, though
It was on lease with Air Algerie, so I'm assuming it flew their Montreal routes at times in that period
9:22, What, you lost the window seat? That's strange. Yeah the old cabin plane needs to be refurbished and clean.
I'm glad you got home safely and aren't, you know, dead somewhere, oof, this whole thing is such a mess! It's a shame really. Such a gorgeous part of the world I'd love to visit but...nah.
Sometimes a little chaos is worth it for a good story. At least this time I had *less* stuff stolen
You are the gentleman. But I would not have given up my seats as readily.
Well the alternative was an arguement that would have gotten me stranded in Kinshasa. So the middle seat is really the lesser of two evils in this case
Nice i live here in lubumbashi and it funny cause this aint new to us....water and juice in first class lol
Ha! Its an interesting place for sure. Just the right amount of chaos lol
Scary. Hopefully the engines work.
Royal Air Maroc 787-8s and PAL A330s have these same seats.
There are loads of widebodys in Africa and 2-2-2 is no longer the norm but not something completely lost
That food tray looked ugh, the croissant seemed like ???. What do you eat in those locations and not get sick???
Surprised I haven't gotten sick more often, but I guess that means that even the more shotty airlines have some level of standards...
Airport Chaos : So it had to do more with a bad system than more of the operator? Am i right? correct me please...
In the 70/80 ies I remember the aircraft of Air Zaire on Brussels airport - DC-8 and DC-10
4:40 it’s leased fyi
Makes me want to stay in Montana.
Ha! Gives you a few thousand miles of safety
WOW exotic!
There is true First Class in the real sense and then there is Third World "First Class" which you flew on. Your shoes perfectly match the state of the cabin cleanliness. The breakfast just looked grim, shocking in fact. You don't want to risk it mate.
It's a wild experience, but with some tlc this could definitely work long haul... product-wise at least. Management may be a different issue, but I can't speak to that...
I think this is just the Air Europa A330 business class
Much respect. I’ve only ever been to FIH with local escorts to navigate the chaos. I can’t imagine doing it domestically without help. DRC is a wild place.
Have a level 8 case. Great product!
Those local guides are the way to go. I've got a contact in Lubumbashi, but Kinshasa is still a bit wild
Patrick man. Don’t do this stuff to yourself 🤪
that seat looks similar to Philippine Airlines regional a330
Thought you titled this FIRST class?
Well it is... at least that's what the ticket says
Ticket super expensive for a local flight! very sad!
That's the unfortunate truth of the taxes and fuel surcharges in much of Africa
Cleanliness is a broom and the time to use it. Why are the streets so dirty? That has nothing to do with poverty . . .
I saw one of these planes in Paris Orly i live near it.
Kinshasa native here, living in the US since 2012. It's a shame to watch footage like this about my home city and overall my country. I think Goma & Kisangani airport are more decent. The level of greed and corruption going on with leaders have reached levels beyond imagination. They recently signed a contract with a small Turkish company that specializes in building airports for $1 billion (way over marked up), and they'll let the Turkish exploit Kinshasa airport renovated 40 years. Senegal & Angola have built modern airport in their capital cities for way less than that ($2-300 million range).
To some extent, Congolese just deserve their leaders because they tolerate their BS. A country with such potential (human & natural), yet being one the poorest in the world, is very sad. Congolese people stand up, fight for your fate by kicking out those corrupt politicians.
GO-PASS It's not a tax, it's a scam.
Dang... but even if that's true, they won't let you on board without it
I saw this aircraft in dubai in march 2024. I have the pics of it.
Take off shows another airline wing, not CAA. Nice video though
Mobuto's Zaire.
My advice to you will be, please don't come to DRC again. How much did you pay or give to the different people who were asking you money like you said
Yea nah I didn't give anything away except for the one person who actually helped me when I asked
despite having TWENTYFOUR TRILLION IN UNTAPPED RESOURCES DRC is a country that truly pisses me off smfh