RwandAir & Rwandan Aviation News 2022

Join this forum to discuss the latest news that happened in the world of commercial aviation.

Moderator: Latest news team

convair
Posts: 1945
Joined: 18 Nov 2011, 00:02

Re: RwandAir & Rwandan Aviation News 2022

Post by convair »

freakyboy2021 wrote: 21 Nov 2022, 05:06
rwandan-flyer wrote: 19 Nov 2022, 18:29
sn26567 wrote: 18 Nov 2022, 22:44 RwandAir is to take delivery soon of one Boeing 737-800SF, MSN 35131, on lease from Merx Aviation (US), now that the conversion is complete. Before conversion, this aircraft flew for TUI Airways (UK).
Yes and it won't be registered 9XR-WX. It will be the 3rd RwandAir A330-200.

The A330 is currently at Châteauroux (France). This is an ex Avianca Colombia delivered in 2011 to Avianca.

RwandAir sent its A330 (A330-200 9XR-WN) for the first time to Doha on November 16, 2022 (https://www.flightradar24.com/data/flights/wb300) instead of a 737-800 with tag service via Dubai. Probably because of the demand for the World Cup. RwandAir plans to go from 3 to 6 flights per week in less than 10 days to Kigali Doha. The 6 flights will remain after the world cup. Connections to Japan or South Korea will be reduced and for flights to Europe and the USA more choice on destinations served at least twice a day. The plane will no longer spend the day in Doha.

By the way the 2 CRJ-900NG of RwandAir are grounded. One in Uganda and another in Zimbabwe. The Q400 which crashed last month in Kamembe did not fly again and a 737 left the 9XR-WJ fleet. Reduced fleet, but planning carried out normally only Bombay saw its flights reduced from 3 to 2 flights per week. Return of 3 weekly flights in early December 2022. The arrival of the A330 will be good, it will free up the slot for the 737-800s flying to Dubai, Since 2 weeks the 2 A330s are now used on London Heathrow, Brussels and Lagos ( Nigeria). The 2 A330s crossing over Africa when one flies to BRU and the other returns from London. By waiting for the arrival of narrowbodies next year. My source says that could be B737 that was supposed to arrive this year, but which version ?

About the 737-700 9XR-WK for a conversion to freight, Info added since 2020 or 2021. But the plane is still config pax. The info has not been updated.


Image

Image

A Silk Way Airlines IL76 with the 20th anniversary sticker visiting Kigali this morning from Tel Aviv. Thanks to Krithik M for the photo. There was also a Sky Taxi 767-200F arriving last night in Kigali from Cairo. He's on his way to Ostrava right now. https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/sp-mrf

Image
the aircraft info is great, May I ask how to check those information ?
That Il76 very much looks like an Avro RJ, doesn'it? I wonder which copied which. ;)

rwandan-flyer
Posts: 986
Joined: 19 Dec 2010, 12:30

Re: RwandAir & Rwandan Aviation News 2022

Post by rwandan-flyer »

RwandAir Cargo B737-800F 9XR-WW delivered on 22nov22 Kelowna-Keflavik-Athens-Kigali according to Skyliner. https://www.skyliner-aviation.de/regdb. ... av4&page=3


Links to the galleries as i promised to the 2 planespotters. Thanks to them for the authorisation to publish pictures


© Liam Allport https://flickr.com/photos/liamallport/ & his Instagram page https://www.instagram.com/liamallportphotography/

Image

© Savvas Garozis https://flickr.com/photos/22331715@N06/

Image
Rwanda Aviation News (Drones, Air Force, Civil Aviation, Space, Air Balloon): https://www.facebook.com/RwandAn-Flyer-153177931456873

rwandan-flyer
Posts: 986
Joined: 19 Dec 2010, 12:30

Re: RwandAir & Rwandan Aviation News 2022

Post by rwandan-flyer »

Rather good news, even if RwandAir flights to the USA are no longer in project (and I would say it's a good thing). But RwandAir can officially serve the USA.

Or American Airlines can come if RwandAir joins Oneworld. A New JFK-Kigali in B787-8 enough to compete with Ethiopian and its code share with United Airlines on USA-Addis Ababa flights and Kenya Airways in code share with Delta Airlines on Nairobi- New York JFK: mrgreen:

Of course, very, very little chance of that happening, even if American Airlines were supposed to open its 1st route to Africa in 2020: Philadelphia-Casablanca, but the covid has been there. Royal Air Maroc now having the code "AA" on routes in Africa: Abidjan, Luanda (line relaunched by RAM next month https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/221101-atnw22lad), Monrovia, Accra https ://news.aa.com/news/news-details/2019/American-Airlines-and-Royal-Air-Maroc-Launch-Codeshare-Agreement-NET-ALP/

In the meantime RwandAir has code share from Doha to the USA. Dallas is currently the only US destination to have the "WB" code on Qatar Airways' 2 daily flights. https://www.doha-airport.com/departures ... ndair?tp=0

Republic of Rwanda Achieves First Safety Assessment Rating

Wednesday, November 23, 2022

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces that the Republic of Rwanda has achieved an International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) Category 1 rating, and is in compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards.

The FAA IASA program focuses on a country's ability to adhere to international aviation safety standards and recommended practices. The standards are set by ICAO, the United Nations’ technical agency for aviation.

The FAA determined the Republic of Rwanda met requirements for the Category 1 status following a thorough review of its progress in improving its safety oversight processes. A Category 1 rating means the country's civil aviation authority complies with ICAO standards. Under a Category 1 rating, properly authorized Rwandan air carriers are permitted to serve the United States and enter into code-share agreements with U.S. carriers without limitation

Through IASA, the FAA assesses the civil aviation authorities of all countries. These air carriers have either applied to fly to the United States, currently conduct operations in the United States, or participate in code sharing arrangements with U.S. partner airlines, and makes that information available to the public. The assessments are based on ICAO safety standards.

For more information on the program visit our website.

https://www.faa.gov/newsroom/republic-r ... ent-rating
Rwanda Aviation News (Drones, Air Force, Civil Aviation, Space, Air Balloon): https://www.facebook.com/RwandAn-Flyer-153177931456873

rwandan-flyer
Posts: 986
Joined: 19 Dec 2010, 12:30

Re: RwandAir & Rwandan Aviation News 2022

Post by rwandan-flyer »

Article from Jeune Afrique. Talks with Qatar Airways are complicated. The file is now n the hands of the Qatari government since weeks. Like Bugesera airport, I think we will have to wait until the end of the World Cup to see if things will move.

In the worst scenario we will have a scenario "à la" Ethiopian, Brussels Airlines or Meridiana (now Air Italy). In 2007, Rwanda had selected Brussels Airlines as a partner for the privatization of RwandAir but at the last minute everything stopped. SN has created AirDc that became Korongo Airlines. Meridiana has created Air Uganda

https://allafrica.com/stories/200707240684.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korongo_Airlines
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_Uganda

In 2015 negotiations began with Ethiopian Airlines, we don't really know what happened either, but the government of Rwanda ended discussions in 2019: (article from 2015) https://www.reuters.com /article/us-ethiopia-airlines-idINKBN0KM1RT20150113

There was also Etihad... But the Emiratis said no quickly probably because they were already strugging with Alitalia or Air Berlin https://www.arabianbusiness.com/industr ... -s-etihad- airways-turns-down-stake-in-rwandair-602323

About the RwandAir 737 freighter, it arrived yesterday. Rwandan businessmen and women hope for a reduction in prices combined with a better efficient logistics chain, including storage areas adapted to be able to export a large number of Rwandan products: meat, fruits, flowers, tea, coffee. , especially vegetables. Anout the 1st destinations: Nairobi, Johannesburg and Dubai. Destinations already served in pax flight by RwandAir. https://www.rwandair.com/media-center/n ... freighter/


---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


While waiting for Qatar Airways, RwandAir is multiplying projects

The airline, which has just received its first Boeing 737 dedicated to freight, also sees the possibility of serving the United States.



On November 24, RwandAir took delivery of a Boeing 737-800 Freighter, its very first dedicated cargo aircraft. An acquisition that reveals the importance of freight, which was almost non-existent in 2017, in the company's business plan in recent years.

Started in 2018 with the transport of 2,300 tons of goods, against 84 tons in 2017, this surge has not been denied, even during the Covid: RwandAir transported 3,253 tons in 2020 and 3,889 tons in 2021, mainly to Dubai, Belgium and the UK, according to figures from the Rwanda Development Board. A development "all the more important as the country is landlocked," said Yvonne Makolo, the company's general manager, in a press release.

The United States, a new possibility


This acquisition follows a few weeks the inauguration of direct flights between Kigali and London Heathrow, which Rwandair had hitherto served via Brussels, with an increase in frequencies. Before the addition, in the coming months, of Luanda, Maputo or Paris on the map of destinations, Yvonne Makolo said on November 16 during a webinar offered by the Association of African Air Carriers (Afraa) .


In addition, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced on November 23 that the Republic of Rwanda has obtained a "Category 1" safety assessment, which attests to its compliance with the standards of the Civil Aviation Organization. international (ICAO). This means, the administration says, that “duly licensed Rwandan air carriers can serve the United States and enter into codeshare agreements with American carriers without restriction”.

Destinations closed in the DRC

In addition to its new freighter, Rwandair, which has restored 80% of its pre-Covid activity according to its CEO, currently operates a rather disparate fleet of twelve aircraft – two Airbus A300s, six Boeing 737s and four Bombardiers ( CRJ900ER and Dash 8-Q400). The company flies to 28 destinations in East, Central, West and Southern Africa, the Middle East, Europe and Asia. In May, faced with rising tensions between the DRC and Rwanda, it had however had to close its three Congolese destinations, namely Kinshasa, Goma and Lubumbashi.

If the airline suffered, like many others, from the Covid-19 crisis, it benefited from May 2020 from government aid in the amount of 145.1 billion Rwandan francs (139 million euros).

Complicated negotiations

The Rwandan pavilion is enjoying a great boost, while it will soon be three years since the entry of the new shareholder, Qatar Airways, is expected. On February 5, 2020, the latter had indeed formalized his intention to buy 49% of the capital of RwandAir, without this being, for the moment, followed by effect. “We are still in the process of finalizing the legal aspects and the capital structure,” Yvonne Makolo clarified during the November 16 webinar. For his part, Qatar Airways' Vice-President Africa, Hendrik Du Preez, assured Jeune Afrique in July that the file is "discussed at the highest level and directly managed by the government's communication office".


The Covid crisis, which has hit airlines' finances hard, partly explains why Qatar Airways, even if it is owned by a powerful gas monarchy, hesitates twice before investing an amount probably in the hundreds of millions of dollars. in a carrier that has yet to break even.

Especially since the lifting of the air blockade inflicted on Qatar by Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt between 2017 and January 2021 has made the conclusion of a strategic partnership less vital. Qatar Airways being able to fly again over the territories of these countries, this has undoubtedly hardened, in passing, the conditions of a possible agreement. The two companies emphasize, however, that their rapprochement continues: in December 2021, three months after signing a codeshare agreement, Qatar Airways thus closed its Kigali-Doha route, leaving its partner officer alone on the section.

https://www.jeuneafrique.com/1396014/ec ... a315098dc8
Rwanda Aviation News (Drones, Air Force, Civil Aviation, Space, Air Balloon): https://www.facebook.com/RwandAn-Flyer-153177931456873

rwandan-flyer
Posts: 986
Joined: 19 Dec 2010, 12:30

Re: RwandAir & Rwandan Aviation News 2022

Post by rwandan-flyer »

The 3rd A330 for RwandAir which has just left from the hangars today at Châteauroux (France). Ex Avianca Colombia built in 2011. Note that it has the Zorro mask.

Many thanks to Hugo Tsr. As promised links to his galleries


Flickr: https://flickr.com/photos/hugotsr_/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spotterchateauroux/

Image
Rwanda Aviation News (Drones, Air Force, Civil Aviation, Space, Air Balloon): https://www.facebook.com/RwandAn-Flyer-153177931456873

rwandan-flyer
Posts: 986
Joined: 19 Dec 2010, 12:30

Re: RwandAir & Rwandan Aviation News 2022

Post by rwandan-flyer »

During the Africa Tourism Business Forum, the commercial director of RwandAir announced that they are targeting North Africa. No country is mentioned. The only destination that would seem plausible would be Cairo. I don't see them to serve Algiers, Tunis, Tripoli or Casablanca. Casablanca would make sense if RwandAir joins Oneworld or sign a patnership with RAM (Qatar Airways owns part of RAM). RwandAir taking advantage of the RAM hub for West Africa, North America and Europe. CMN can tap into pax in transit flying to Kigali and East and Southern Africa via Kigali.

RAM had a code share with Kenya Airways when they served Nairobi and many RAM wanted to serve Kigali last time was March 2016 (https://www.newtimes.co.rw/article/126723/News/moroccos -national-carrier-to-start-direct-flights-between-kigali-and-casablanca)... Kigali appears on the RAM website. The RAM had its AT code on the former Qatar Airways Kigali Doha flight.

Rwanda has become Morocco's privileged partner in East Africa (investment in banks, agriculture and health). Kagame and Mohamed 6 have very very good relations. Wait and see..

The Rwandan government has published its report for the fiscal year 2021/2022 on infrastructure. It is the JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)) which plays the role of expertise and advises Rwandans.

About RwandAir or Kigali airport there is confusion, because the same figures appear for both. For the fiscal year 2020/21 we learn that 277,942 passengers were welcomed by RwandAir or by Kigali airport. And for the 2021/2022 fiscal year we are at 615,215 px against 1,151,300 pax for the 2018/19 fiscal year. The figure that is clear is that for the next fiscal year they hope to reach 1,333,032 pax for RwandAir.

For the next fiscal year, the goal is for RwandAir to have 31 destinations (24 currently). RwandAir mechanics were sent to Qatar for training. 16 pilots from a promotion of the AKagera AViation School joined RwandAir. 12 others will join the airline this month. The airline keeps improving its maintenance dept. The partnership with Qatar Airways should allow to RwandAir to increase its activities, develop its cargo department and help to acquire new aircraft.

RwandAir has completed its restructuring plan. No figures about losses caused by covid. We also learn that RwandAir has a code share partnership with British Airways. It's probably in project because I haven't heard of it. But since they serve London it will "feed" the LHR-Kigali route

Rwanda has allocated a budget of 5,258,984.1 Euro to the Rwanda Airport Company

https://www.mininfra.gov.rw/index.php?e ... 9fd0772ff6

https://www.mininfra.gov.rw/index.php?e ... 8123b0911f

https://www.mininfra.gov.rw/index.php?e ... 139f384812

With its new airport, Rwanda wants to become an air hub in the region https://www-rfi-fr.translate.goog/fr/po ... r_pto=wapp
Rwanda Aviation News (Drones, Air Force, Civil Aviation, Space, Air Balloon): https://www.facebook.com/RwandAn-Flyer-153177931456873

User avatar
sn26567
Posts: 40827
Joined: 13 Feb 2003, 00:00
Location: Rosières/Rozieren, Belgium
Contact:

Re: RwandAir & Rwandan Aviation News 2022

Post by sn26567 »

rwandan-flyer wrote: 02 Dec 2022, 19:10 With its new airport, Rwanda wants to become an air hub in the region https://www-rfi-fr.translate.goog/fr/po ... r_pto=wapp
RwandAir is now able to access 17 African countries under the recently launched Single African Air Transport Market pilot programme, a forward in making Kigali a regional hub. Capacity is expected to double in 2023 when it concludes negotiations with Qatar Airways, which is set to acquire a 49% stake.
André
ex Sabena #26567

rwandan-flyer
Posts: 986
Joined: 19 Dec 2010, 12:30

Re: RwandAir & Rwandan Aviation News 2022

Post by rwandan-flyer »

2 weeks after its arrival, the 1st RwandAir B737-800F made its 1st commercial flight from Kigali to Sharjah. Possible that it will be a regular route in the future as the airline has announced flights to the Middle East. https://www.flightradar24.com/data/flights/wb9304

RwandAir appears on the Sharjah airport website (database) but for the moment only today's flight is displayed and nothing about airlines serving the airport https://www.sharjahairport.ae/en/busine ... /airlines/. The return flight to Kigali is scheduled for 23:00 tonight local time. https://www.sharjahairport.ae/en/busine ... epartures/

Image
Rwanda Aviation News (Drones, Air Force, Civil Aviation, Space, Air Balloon): https://www.facebook.com/RwandAn-Flyer-153177931456873

rwandan-flyer
Posts: 986
Joined: 19 Dec 2010, 12:30

Re: RwandAir & Rwandan Aviation News 2022

Post by rwandan-flyer »

Photos of the 1st flight to Sharjah today. © Embassy of Rwanda in the United Arab Emirates. https://twitter.com/RwandaInUAE/status/ ... 6768958464

A small bright spot for RwandAir in a somewhat gloomy sky during the end of the year. There are delays due to breakdowns or accidents (collision between vehicle and a RwandAir A330 in Brussels earlier this week https://twitter.com/axel_herateur/statu ... 8007147520**). The weather in Kigali is capricious with fog which means that flights have to be diverted. As a result, the luggage has difficulty reaching its destination. Many complaints on Twitter

**Translation: Conspiracy theory of the week: if the Rwandair flight from Brussels was damaged while loading luggage and had to be repaired, it is because there is a Rwandan political action behind it and something is happening in the country

Image
Rwanda Aviation News (Drones, Air Force, Civil Aviation, Space, Air Balloon): https://www.facebook.com/RwandAn-Flyer-153177931456873

britishaviation
Posts: 4
Joined: 30 Oct 2022, 14:12

Re: RwandAir & Rwandan Aviation News 2022

Post by britishaviation »

Any further news on the launch of Paris or the delivery of the third A330?

User avatar
sn26567
Posts: 40827
Joined: 13 Feb 2003, 00:00
Location: Rosières/Rozieren, Belgium
Contact:

Re: RwandAir & Rwandan Aviation News 2022

Post by sn26567 »

britishaviation wrote: 08 Jan 2023, 17:55 Any further news on the launch of Paris or the delivery of the third A330?
As mentioned in one of the above posts, the third A330 has received an Irish registration, hence its entry into service is at best postponed, if not cancelled altogether. Thus, no aircraft available to start Paris service.
André
ex Sabena #26567

rwandan-flyer
Posts: 986
Joined: 19 Dec 2010, 12:30

Re: RwandAir & Rwandan Aviation News 2022

Post by rwandan-flyer »

sn26567 wrote: 08 Jan 2023, 18:13
britishaviation wrote: 08 Jan 2023, 17:55 Any further news on the launch of Paris or the delivery of the third A330?
As mentioned in one of the above posts, the third A330 has received an Irish registration, hence its entry into service is at best postponed, if not cancelled altogether. Thus, no aircraft available to start Paris service.
In deed, the airline is also suffering of pilot shortage
Rwanda Aviation News (Drones, Air Force, Civil Aviation, Space, Air Balloon): https://www.facebook.com/RwandAn-Flyer-153177931456873

Post Reply