Some details about the new version of Bugesera airport. Opening planned for 2024/2025.
The covid has slowed down the work, due to a lack of staff. Qatar had just taken over the project, everything had to be redone (tenders, etc.)
The capacity& for the first phase is now 8,200,000 pax per year instead of 7 million (and not 4,200,000 as Igihe says). 1st phase which was to be on the period 2022-2032. Surely postponed. Before covid, Kigali airport was at 1,144,000 pax per year. Capacity of the terminal was 400,000 pax (number exceeded in 2012). Kigali airport can no longer be expanded (2 expansion phases in 2012-2013 and 2019-2020) and with the increase in traffic, an airport had to be built anyway.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bugesera_ ... al_Airport
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kigali_In ... al_Airport
About cargo capacity, a maximum of 150,000 tonnes of cargo per year. Very ambitious. I don't know if this figure will be reached but there is a potential in the tea, coffee, fruits, meat, flower and medical sector with a vaccine factory that will come into being, there will be possibilities to develop the cargo anyway
The VIP terminal will be able to accommodate up to 200 customers. The length of the track will be 4500m. Although RwandAir will play a role in the operation of the airport, there will be probably new airlines in the coming years to serve Rwanda. In my opinion, Uganda Airlines, Air Tanzania in the region, Emirates and Lufthansa outside Africa. In addition to KLM, Brussels Airlines, Turkish Airlines, Kenya Airways, Ethiopian and Egyptair which will surely increase their capacity.
https://www.taa.go.tz/pages/traffic-statistics
Rwandans and travelers to Rwanda are affected by the major project of the Bugesera Airport, as one of the major investment projects expected to make Rwanda a hub for tourism, investment and other services in the region.
The reconstruction work started in 2017, and in 2019 the Government of Rwanda and Qatar Airways signed a cooperation agreement in the project worth 1.3 billion dollars.
The agreement was finalized in 2016 when Rwanda signed with Societe Mota-Engil Engenharia e Construção África, SA. of Portugal, to build the stadium in two phases, where it was planned that the construction of this stadium will cost 820 million dollars. Mota-Engil Africa was supposed to manage it for 25 years, with a possible extension of another 15.
The first phase of the project was due to be completed in 2022, but there will be changes including a redesign of the airport, which has come amid the Covid-19 crisis that has delayed work, resulting in a short staffing period.
The current plan is that the Bugesera Airport will be built in two phases, the first of which will be completed in 2024/25.
In the new agreement, the airport was given the capacity to receive at least 8.2 million passengers per year, while the previous plan was 4.5 million per year. At least at the current peak hour it will be able to accommodate 1225 people.
During this time, the participants of the African Aviation Conference being held in Kigali, had the opportunity to take a visual tour of the Bugesera Airport, and see all the parts that will be there.
It is a project under construction in Bugesera District, Rilima Sector.
It is a square with a large entrance gate, but the entrance of ordinary travelers is very different from the entrance of dignitaries, such as presidents.
There are also separate sections for passengers and cargo, especially since the transportation of goods is a business category that needs to be strengthened by airlines, because it speeds up the service rather than spending months on a ship at sea.
On the part dedicated to cargo equal to 27,000 square meters, it is planned that at least this yard will have the capacity to pass 150,000 tons per year, have five gates, and at least 30 places where the cargo can be loaded.
In terms of security, there is a place where staff can enter and be picked up, which is different from the normal way for passengers.
In the part reserved for dignitaries known as the Presidential Terminal Building, there are special buildings that can accommodate the president and his 200 dignitaries. It is about 6600 square meters.
Looking at the side of regular travelers, there are modern methods that help people announce that they have participated in their journey (check-in), where they are received, where their documents are checked and where they prepare for the flight.
It is a building with a total area of 120,000 square meters.
There is also a special place where security personnel vehicles such as Police, communication towers, etc. will be parked. The tower will be 59.6 meters high.
Regarding the parking lot, it is planned that in the first phase, 249 parking spaces will be built for the regular employees of the airport.
Meanwhile, on the part of the airport authorities, a parking lot for 254 cars has been planned, and 12 buses are available.
On the side of ordinary passengers, in the first stage there is a parking lot for 547 cars, while for passengers arriving at the airport, in the first stage there is a parking lot for 249 taxis and 9 big buses.
It is planned that on the side of the airport administration, a five-story building will be used, which can accommodate 820 people.
The road that will be used by planes when they land or take off at Bugesera airport, will be 4500 meters wide.
It is a much awaited project, mainly because of the expected profits.
When President Kagame launched the African conference on aviation, on this Monday, he said that this sector is expected to contribute significantly to the acceleration of Africa's development.
He said "Rwanda continues to make its contribution. Currently, RwandAir, the national airline, operates flights to 24 destinations, including 19 in Africa. We want to continue to increase it on the continent and beyond."
"We are working with our partner Qatar Airways to expand RwandAir and build a new airport, making Kigali the regional hub for passenger and cargo travel."
https://igihe.com/amakuru/u-rwanda/arti ... -na-benshiRwanda Aviation News (Drones, Air Force, Civil Aviation, Space, Air Balloon): https://www.facebook.com/RwandAn-Flyer-153177931456873
source: Tel Aviv Airport (search engine).
Delegation and Delegations of Rwanda / Canada / South Africa / Qatar
