Monday, January 27, 2025 bpost and Brussels Airlines have joined forces to commemorate a century of Belgian aviation with Africa. To mark the 100 th anniversary of the first flight from Belgium to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), bpost has released a special stamp available from today. This milestone underscores the historic and enduring connection between Belgium and the African continent.
The stamp, priced at €15 for a sheet of five, features a photomontage of the historic Belgian aircraft Princess Marie-José and its crew. It also includes a map of the flight route from Brussels to Kinshasa. The stamp can be purchased via bpost’s eshop or at Philaboutiques in Brussels and Mechelen.
A Historic Achievement On February 12, 1925, Edmond Thieffry, navigator and pilot, along with mechanic Joseph De Bruycker and pilot Léopold Roger, embarked on the groundbreaking 8,000-km flight from Brussels to Kinshasa. The Princess Marie-José, despite challenges like getting lost twice in the Sahara, became the first Belgian aircraft to complete the journey. Fifty-one days after departure, the team landed in Leopoldville, now Kinshasa, marking the birth of air travel between Belgium and Africa.
Strengthening Ties Brussels Airlines continues this legacy with strong ties to Africa. The airline’s African Competence Centre in Brussels draws on a century of experience and benefits the entire Lufthansa Group. From summer 2025, Brussels Airlines will operate 56 flights weekly to the.
