RwandAir & Rwandan Aviation News 2023

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RwandAir & Rwandan Aviation News 2023

Post by sn26567 »

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Re: RwandAir & Rwandan Aviation News 2023

Post by rwandan-flyer »

Kenya Airways is returning to daily night flying this summer. Depart Nairobi at 12:05 a.m., arrive in Kigali at 12:50 a.m. Departure from Kigali at 03:40 and arrival in Kigali at 06:10. Strange hours? No way.

The NBO KGL flight matches perfectly with the arrivals of Air France flights from CDG, KLM from Amsterdam and British Airways from London Hetahrow. Air France, KLM and British Airways operate the NBO-KGL line in code share with Kenya Airways. And for the return arrival at NBO at 06:10 enables connections to London Heathrow and Amsterdam with Kenya Airways. In addition, there are also possible connections to West and Southern Africa.

The other flight of the day is, depending on the day of the week, operated in the morning, day or evening, in particular to pick up or transfer passengers on the New York-Nairobi-New York flight or on the NBO-CDG (AF and KQ) , NBO-AMS (KLM), NBO-Mumbai, NBO-Bangkok and NBO-LHR (British Airways)

So there will be 2 flights a day with KQ next summer. Same capacity as before Covid for KQ knowing that Jambojet (the LCC of Kenya Airways) operated a daily flight in the middle of the day.

5 flights per day between NBO and KGL if we add RwandAir


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Major developments that shaped Rwanda’s aviation industry https://www.newtimes.co.rw/article/3979 ... n-industry

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A new year for RwandAir. A complicated end of 2022 with a Dash (running off the runway at Kamembe) and two inactive CRJs, which created a mess in planning with flight cancellations at the worst time. The 2 Dash are now active and the CRJ stored in Zimbabwe is flying again.

The airlines now seems to be able to operate all its flgihts, but it is understaffed like most airlines. Like many African companies, local labor cannot fill the gap. It therefore hires non-African pilots, often Europeans, Americans or Indians who are necessarily more demanding in terms of salaries. Before the covid, RwandAir could offer "attractive salaries", but now the airline is less attractive. RwandAir had to proceed with an austerity cure.

Doha (3 to 6 flights per week) and Dubai (7 to 11 flights per week) will not see the flight increase. Paris-Kigali is on standby and RwandAir charter flights scheduled for December 2022 and January 2023 between Tel Aviv and Kigali have been cancelled**. Johannesburg, Lusaka, Harare and Cape Town will again be increased after seen their flight numbers reduced in December 2022.

It is probly for this reason that the A330 which was supposed to join RwandAir at the end of 2022 is still in Châteauroux. It even lost his Rwandan registration 9XR-WX, replacing by an Irish registration EI-HJJ. No possible since 2 weeks to find information on this reg. I am waiting to see the last update of the Irish Aircraft registration database which should take place this week.

https://www.iaa.ie/commercial-aviation/ ... -changes-1

I promised the photographer not to post the photo on the forum, so I put the link

Airbus A332 - Rwandair "EI-HJJ" / 0398

https://www.flickr.com/photos/330_340/5 ... 5S-2nDQHHF


** An Israeli tourist on board a RwandAir 737 on one of the charter flights operated on behalf of Israeli Tour Operators:

"Rwanda Lines planes in the sky over Tel Aviv on the way to a safari through the national parks of Tanzania 4-16-2022 3-14-06 PM"

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127437007 ... 302556323/

RwandAir's A330-300 in Tel Aviv in September 2022: https://scontent-frt3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/ ... e=63B988F8
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Re: RwandAir & Rwandan Aviation News 2023

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.


The A330 9XR-WX planned for RwandAir is now owned by Rise Aviation (EI-HJJ).

EI-HJJ AIRBUS INDUSTRIE A330-243 LAND AEROPLANE 2022-12-21 233000 2011 1224 ROLLS-ROYCE PLC RB211 TRENT 772B-60 2 RISE AVIATION 3 (IRELAND) LIMITED UNIT J, BLOCK 1, SHANNON BUSINESS PARK, SHANNON, CO. CLARE,

https://www.iaa.ie/commercial-aviation/ ... ember-2022


However according to ATDB (updated yesterday), the aircraft could be delivered next month.


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Re: RwandAir & Rwandan Aviation News 2023

Post by rwandan-flyer »

In recent months, RwandAir 737s became a "common sight" in Palma de Mallorca than to Addis Ababa. Here is the reason. https://www.google.com/search?q=rwandai ... 66&dpr=0.9

Note that RwandAir also had an Iberia agreement for the supply of parts for its CRJ-900 fleet. https://www.aviationpros.com/engines-co ... r-aircraft.

So in summary, the A330s go to Qatar Airways (but the contract with Lufthansa Technik still seems active**) and the 737s to Spain, even if Ethiopian takes care of the maintenance of the Q400s. We have code share with Qatar Airways but also Ethiopian and Turkish Airlines.

At RwandAir we like Oneworld and Star Alliance. No jealous :mrgreen:

**Light A330 maintenance in Jordan. CRJs go to SAMCO in the Netherlands for major maintenance

25 January 2023


Iberia Maintenance signs an exclusive multi-year contract with RwandAir


The agreement includes all visits for the maintenance of RwandAir´s CFM56-7B & 7BE engines
Safety and excellence in the services are two core values shared by Iberia Maintenance and RwandAir


Iberia Maintenance and RwandAir have signed a multi-year exclusive contract to maintain the CFM56-7B & 7BE engines powering the airline's Boeing 737 fleet.

Both airlines share the same core values in vital areas, such as a commitment to safety and operational excellence.

Iberia Maintenance was selected by RwandAir following a rigorous process, with a proposal deemed to be the most competitive, including engine lease, logistics, and customized work scoping utilizing the Spanish company´s engineering expertise.

Iberia Maintenance Engine Shop, located in Madrid, is specialized in CFM56, V2500, and RB211 engines and provides services to a worldwide customer base of airlines, OEMs, and the wider Industry.

Andy Best, Iberia´s Chief Technical Officer, stated: “Iberia Maintenance is grateful to be selected to partner with RwandAir and we are very proud to play a part in its continued development. We look forward to working closely with the Rwandair teams ensuring the delivery of a market-leading and differentiated service”.

Yvonne Makolo, RwandAir´s CEO, said: “RwandAir’s strategic partnership with Iberia Maintenance reflects confidence in their technical expertise and experience to meet our high maintenance standards. Safety is our number one priority and Iberia’s excellent maintenance track record will help RwandAir consolidate its position as one of the most ambitious airlines in Africa”.

About RwandAir

Operating from Kigali, RwandAir is one of the world’s fastest-growing airlines and operates one of the youngest state-of-the-art fleets on the African continent. With a reputation for delivering a premium service to all its customers, RwandAir operates 12 aircraft with an average age of just under six years. The airline currently offers services to 25 destinations across 21 countries throughout Africa, Europe, the Middle East and Asia.

About Iberia Maintenance

Iberia Maintenance is a leading provider of MRO services to the IAG´s airlines, OEMs and the wider industry. With Airframe maintenance capabilities covering all group Airbus fleets including the state-of-the-art A350 and A320neo. Its engine portfolio specialises in the V2500, CFM56 and RB211 with the GTF and LEAP platforms soon to be introduced and component shops covering a wide range of ATA chapters. Iberia Maintenance supports customers around the globe and continues to adapt its business model to the changing demands of the market and its customers. Iberia Maintenance provides the highest quality and safety standards combined with a flexible and competitive commercial approach. Iberia Maintenance well trained and experienced employees provide MRO services from the main operational hubs in Madrid and Barcelona.

https://grupo.iberia.com/news/25012023/ ... h-rwandair
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Re: RwandAir & Rwandan Aviation News 2023

Post by sn26567 »

Thanks for the latest link. I'll post the news on the main page.
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Re: RwandAir & Rwandan Aviation News 2023

Post by rwandan-flyer »

Your welcome
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Re: RwandAir & Rwandan Aviation News 2023

Post by rwandan-flyer »

Kigali and RwandAir have been removed from the Paris Aéroports website. Probably no route to Paris. To be honest, I would like to see Air France come back

RwandAir plans to expand the cargo fleet, as the airline eyes cargo flights to Nigeria, Tanzania, the Republic of Congo and Central Africa in addition to what has been mentioned before: Kenya, Uganda, South Africa . Sharjah being the only active cargo destination at the moment

Confirmation for the arrival of a leased A330.


Great expectations should see East Africa’s air freight hubs flying


Despite the general grim outlook for air freight, it seems intra-regional demand for shipments passing through the key hubs in East Africa – Kenya, Ethiopia and Rwanda – are set to pick up again.

https://theloadstar.com/great-expectati ... bs-flying/


https://theloadstar.com/great-expectati ... bs-flying/

RwandAir has just added its WB code on Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen flights ( https://www.google.com/search?q=saw+doh ... s-wiz-serp) IST is served by TK on departure Kigali is also in code share with WB.


The list of destinations served by Qatar Airways in code share with RwandAir from Doha. Surprising to see RwandAir code on DOH Lanarca and DOH Amman ( demand from or to Kigali enabling to RwandAir to sell seats?). Eastern Europe with Budapest, Prague and surprise nothing in India or China. After no surprise: Europe and the United States https://www.doha-airport.com/departures ... ndair?tp=0

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Re: RwandAir & Rwandan Aviation News 2023

Post by rwandan-flyer »

Last preparations before delivery (if everything goes well). Seen at Châteauroux (France) on February 9, 2023

RwandAir A330-200 currently EI-HJJ, which will become 9XR-WX. Unlike the other 2 A330s, this one will not be tri class so no premium eco.

30 seats in Business and 222 in economy: https://www.flightera.net/en/planes/9XR-WX

Thanks to Enzo Catania who has gave me the authorisation to post the photo on the forum.

Here are the links to his galleries (I promised him to put the links)

Jeptohos: https://www.jetphotos.com/photographer/74342/photos
Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/124488798@N04/
Skyliner: https://www.skyliner-aviation.de/showphotos.main?from=1

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Re: RwandAir & Rwandan Aviation News 2023

Post by rwandan-flyer »

The next RwandAir A330-200 performed a test flight on 16 Feb 23 at Chateauroux (France).

Thanks again to Enzo Cattania for the photo

Here are the links to his galleries (I promised him to put the links when I posted his photos)

Jeptohos: https://www.jetphotos.com/photographer/74342/photos
Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/124488798@N04/

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Re: RwandAir & Rwandan Aviation News 2023

Post by rwandan-flyer »

The CRJ-900 9XR-WH is now in storage in Kigali, having been in Harare. We see it at 09:20 in the video with the protections on the engine. The crashed CRJ in Entebbe in April 2022 9XR-WI is now in good shape after spending several months in a hangar in Entebbe. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlmA5dHw-BE&t=638s

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The 69th ACI Africa Summit opens tomorrow in Kigali from February 25th to March 3rd. Hoping to have information on the project of the airport of Bugesera and the future projects of the Rwandan aviation. And data on Rwandan aviation (pax stats, turnover,...). I don't know if we will have some infos about future airlines that could open routes to Kigali. Ask for the program. A mise en bouche with the participation in Umuganda for all the delegations (community work every last Saturday of the month in Rwanda and those for a very very long time. Everyone at work, even the President of Rwanda and the 1st Lady https:/ /aci-africa.net/?page_id=202)


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Flights between Jordan and Rwanda, available soon?

For several years, Arab countries have been competing with each other about Rwanda. Algeria, Morocco, Kuwait, Bahrain, Egypt, Emirates, Qatar, Oman or Saudi Arabia. Investments in agriculture, space, tourism, infrastructure, environment and aviation. Rwanda and the UAE have just passed the billion dollar trade mark, which on the scale of Rwanda is huge (https://www.newtimes.co.rw/article/5283 ... on-in-2022).

Things are changing at Kagame and the airlines opened routes since 2010: Dubai (FlyDubai between 2014 and 2016, RwandAir since 2010), Sharjah (RwandAir Cargo) Doha (Qatar Airways from 2012 to 2021 and RwandAir since 2021) and Cairo (Egyptair since 2019). Casablanca has been planned since 2008 with Royal Air Maroc, but still nothing. (https://www-jeuneafrique-com.translate. ... r_pto=wapp). in 2022 a manegr of RwandAir talked about the possibility to open a route to North Africa (https://twitter.com/FlyRwandAir/status/ ... 4408526854). Oman Air was also planning to go to Rwanda (https://www.omanobserver.om/article/546 ... cat-as-hub.). They have an interline with RwandAir https://www.omanair.com/fr/en/alliances-and-partners

The latest entrant is Jordan President Kagame made a state visit in 2022. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Jordan has just made a 3-day visit accompanied by a delegation.

The 2 countries had signed an air agreement in 2019. We learn that there are talks to launch direct flights. Visas will be abolished for Rwandans coming to Jordan and Jordanians coming to Rwanda. Rwanda wants alao to attract Jordanian tourists to Rwanda and Jordan attracts Rwandan students who are mainly in Israel or Turkey (if we are talking about the region).


For the moment no information about the airlines which could launch flights. Honestly, in the short term, I don't believe in it, and in the medium term a little skeptical.


Royal Jordanian launched flights to West Africa (Ghana and Nigeria) and East Africa (Kenya) in the early 2010s. Flights did not longtime long. These are very competitive markets. For Rwanda it is a growing market, but certainly not big enough yet. But Royal Jordanian has a good network in Europe and serves some "big" markets of Rwanda: France, United Kingdom, Germany, Netherlands and the Scandinavian countries. In North America, RJ serves Canada and the United States. In the Middle East, Tel Aviv and Dubai. Its membership in Oneworld enable to pick up pax from American Airlines via Europe or via Canada or Chicago, Detroit or New York (just an example).

Like Turkish Airlines is doing with RwandAir. IST KGL is operated by TK and TK has its code on some routes RwandAir routes in Africa (Zimbabwe, Burundi, Central African Republic, Cameroon, Zambia), while RwandAir has its code on some TK routes to Europe : Dusseldorf, Amstedam, Geneva, Zurich and Paris


I will not see RwandAir, unless the airline offers a similar system as with Qatar Airways. Connections via Amman for pax arriving or going to Europe or North America and Royal Jordnaian uses Kigali to dispatch pax in Central, Southern and Eastern Africa with RwandAir. RwandAir has its WB code on the Doha Amman line (WB1053/52, WB1114/115). Surely a sign that there is (a small demand) between Amman and Kigali. Ties between Oneworld and RwandAir could facilitate all this. RwandAir sends its planes for overhaul to Jordan (over 1 or 2 days). Mainly its A330s.


Photos: Rwanda, Jordan to waive visa requirements on ordinary passports


https://www.newtimes.co.rw/article/5253 ... -passports
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Re: RwandAir & Rwandan Aviation News 2023

Post by rwandan-flyer »

Interview of the president of RwandAir by John Honwell, the founder of Aviadef Africa. A platform that connects African aviation players with those from the rest of the world. https://aviadevinsight.libsyn.com/239-t ... mment-text


We learn that cargo boosts the company's revenues with double-digit growth. She justifies it by the fact that Rwanda is a landlocked country without ports, and no railway lines to African countries and in particular to Dar Es Salaam or Mombasa (the 2 large ports in the region). The bulk of the demand is in London, Brussels and Dubai. LHR and BRU are only served by A330 Pax. Dubai by A330 and B737 pax, but there is the emirates of Sharjah served by B737-800F. The plane flew to Bangui last week. I hope others routes will open soon, because it does not fly much https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/9xr-ww

The 3rd A330 should arrive next week if all goes well. The company should also add B737s. The 2 CRJ 900s will leave the fleet. As for the Q400NG, for the moment it remains in the fleet.

The company will continue to focus on the African market. The regional lines (East Africa) work well. The line to London too, both point-to-point and transfers to Kigali. The Visit Rwanda and Arsenal partnership has given some visibility for Rwanda in the UK market. Kagame announced yesterday tah 3rd big European club after PSG and Arsenal as a future partner of Visit Rwanda. https://allafrica.com/stories/202303020124.html

Paris is still in project. London should switch to a daily rotation this winter (I think it's for the next winter ata season).

Nothing new on the Qatar Airways RwandAir deal


The only problem is the lack of information about the financial results of the company. However, the Imgho 2022/2023** report details the budget amount allocated to RwandAir (in part) as well as for Rwanda's airports (read link. You must click on MININFRA: https://www.minecofin.gov.rw/1/publicat ... 66fc9f5697


** Imihigo was a pre-colonial cultural practice in Rwanda in which an individual set targets or goals to be achieved within a specific time frame.


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Re: RwandAir & Rwandan Aviation News 2023

Post by rwandan-flyer »

Many African countries have bilateral agreements with Western countries sometimes dating back more than 40-50 years. They therefore need to be updated.

Rwanda and France signed a new agreement today almost 2 years after Emmanuel Macron's visit to Rwanda. Relations between these 2 countries were complicated for quite a few years after the Genocide against the Tutsi. The current power of Rwanda accusing France of having had a responsibility in the Genocide and then in the slowness to judge executives of the old regime who had taken refuge in France. Diplomatic ties were severed between 2006 and 2009.

So neither of the two countries were really in a hurry to update the agreement, the last modification was in May 1973. Unfortunately, we don't have the details of the new agreement. But we can suggest that it gives more rights to Rwandan companies (there only RwandAir). RwandAir probably use the Air France or others French companies trafic rights to go to CDG. If i m right In the 70s only Air France or UTA (French side) were able to fly to Kigali.. Air Rwanda only started flying in 1975. The 707s arrived at the end of the 70s and the beginning of the 80s. But these were cargo versions.

Air France launched its first flights to Kigali in November 1972, departing from Orly.

Paris-Cairo-Addis Ababa-Kigali and return to B. 707. Nov. 1972

Paris-Cairo-Addis Ababa-Bujumbura-Kigali-Addis Ababa-Cairo-Paris (therefore without stopover in Bujumbura on the way back), in B. 707. April 1974
(for the Addis Ababa-Bujumbura-Kigali leg).


https://www.siv.archives-nationales.cul ... _IR_012783 (p7)

There is a small attempt by a French tour operator (Point Afrique) to launch a Paris-Marseille-Kigali line with a technical stopover in Chad in 2004. The flights being operated by Air Méditerranée B737-500 with a flight every 15 days. 1,000 passengers had purchased a ticket. The request came from the Rwandan community living in France, including a group living in Ardèche and who had established links with the boss of Point Afrique.

But without really knowing why, the Rwandan authorities canceled everything despite good fillings.

Not much choice about the link to the site...., but it's the only one that has published so much information about this story.

https://www-mdrwi-org.translate.goog/ra ... r_pto=wapp & https://www-mdrwi-org.translate.goog/ra ... r_sch=http

Big delegation. DGAC? Representative of a French Ministry? Air France ? RwandaAir? https://twitter.com/RwandaCAA/status/16 ... 3175908355


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Re: RwandAir & Rwandan Aviation News 2023

Post by rwandan-flyer »

ULS Airlines (Turkey) operated a cargo flight today on behalf of RwandAir using a RwandAir flight number.

Flight Kigali (Rwanda) Lagos (Nigeria)

I asked for additional info from AirportIST (Turkish Aviation News Website) on Twitter. He replied "thank you for your attention. Good news soon for Rwanda"

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Re: RwandAir & Rwandan Aviation News 2023

Post by rwandan-flyer »

Rwanda’s airport among 10 best in Africa, 3rd best in region https://www.newtimes.co.rw/article/5878 ... -in-region

The 3rd RwandAir A330 (a 200 version) has just arrived at Kigali (Rwanda) from Chateauroux this evening. The aircraft irs registered 9XR-WX

© RwandAir https://twitter.com/FlyRwandAir/status/ ... 3908038658

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Re: RwandAir & Rwandan Aviation News 2023

Post by rwandan-flyer »

RwandAir and Turkish Airlines sign a code share agreement. https://twitter.com/FlyRwandAir/status/ ... 6890877964


In fact, an agreement was signed in 2011 on the KGL IST route. https://www.newtimes.co.rw/article/5954 ... h-airlines

TK provides also crew training for cabin and flight deck crew for RwandAir

Adding the code share with Qatar Airways, this will increase the number of connecting passengers in Kigali. According to the Rwanda Yearbook 2022 in 2019, 291,974 pax had made a connection to Kigali. With the Covid the figures are lower even if for 2021 we are around 40% of the figures for 2019. For 2022, the figures are logically higher with the reopening of the borders of countries served by RwandAir.

Kigali airport passed the one million passenger mark for the first time in 2019.

But the difference is that since last year, RwandAir has put its code on some flights from Istanbul and Turkish Airlines has put its code on some flights from Kigali.

For once we can think of an extension of the code share. No idea if RwandAir will launch flights to Istanbul. Tutkish Airlines currently offering daily flights to Kigali with 737 and A330

Flights currently in code share departing from Istanbul. For Doha it is a Qatar Airways flight in code share with RwandAir. TK puts its code on flights departing from Kigali to Douala (Cameroon), Bangui (Central African Republic), Lusaka (Zambia) and Harare (Zimbabwe)


https://www.istanbul-airport.com/istanb ... e-rwandair

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https://statistics.gov.rw/publication/1918 (page 75)

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Re: RwandAir & Rwandan Aviation News 2023

Post by rwandan-flyer »

This time it should be good. With the arrival of the 3rd A330, RwandAir should open its Kigali Paris Cdg route from June 14, 2023, with 3 flights per week. Bookings not yet opened.

Note that the A330-200 9XR-WX has kept the Avianca interior.

The O&D between Kigali and CDG in 2019 was 14,243 passengers (one way fare: 430USD). Behind Brussels with 56,479 passengers, London Heathrow with 23,240 passengers (https://www.routesonline.com/news/29/br ... k-lax-cun/) and London Gatwick with 21,165 passengers (concerning Europe)

https://fr-rwanda--podium-org.translate ... r_pto=wapp

RwandAir will try to offer connections to the Republic of Congo, Central African Republic, Gabon, Cameroon, Tanzania and Kenya, which are the major markets departing from CDG. It will be more difficult for South Africa (Johannesburg and Cape Town).

Hard to know if RwandAir will try to find a partner on CDG (with interline for example). I think about airlines based in North America: American Airlines, United Airlines, Delta Airlines or Air Canada. Or why not Air France. Even if the AF code share offerg to Kigali is full with KLM (AMS KGL) and Kenya Airways (NBO KGL)

I have some colleagues from Cameroon, one from Kenya and Central African Republic in my company at the airport. I will try to promote RwandAir :mrgreen:
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Re: RwandAir & Rwandan Aviation News 2023

Post by rwandan-flyer »

Kigali appears again on the Paris airport website. With a 1st RwandAir flight which should arrive in Paris Cdg on June 13, 2023 in the morning.

The code share agreement between Turkish Airlines and RwandAir will include 46 destinations served by Turkish Airlines:

North America, Europe and North Africa, which will join Düsseldorf, Geneva, Paris Cdg and Amsterdam already served in code share by RwandAir

And 8 destinations served by RwandAir, in addition to Bangui, Douala, Lusaka, Harare and Brazzaville already in code share with Turkish Airlines.

Portrait of the CEO of RwandAir in JA

A punctilious, very diplomatic boss who notably knew how to fix issues between NAS (now Menzies), the owner of the lounges at Kigali airport and RwandAir. Girma Wake the man behind the success of Ethiopian Airlines (and who ran RwandAir 10 years ago) has also a good opinion about Yvonne Makolo. The CEO will take over the management of IATA in June 2023.

The company is IOSA and it is ranked among the best companies in Africa.

All this praise enable to RwandAir to receive subsidies that keep the company afloat. Otherwise, the company which celebrates its 20th anniversary this month would have gone bankrupt a long time ago. The goal is to open up the country. Profitability will wait....

We learn that 25% of executives at RwandAir are women. There are 10 female pilots out of the company's 120

This way of managing does not please everyone. Since there is a concurrency distortion as explained by Sean Mendis

"But, in the microcosm of African aviation, its voluntarism does not go without causing gnashing of teeth. "The African common market is supposed to be built on free and fair competition, without state subsidies. However, Rwandair is so supported by its state-shareholder that the competition is biased: they can make losses of more than 100 dollars per seat without batting an eyelid”, thus protests the consultant Sean Mendis, upwind against this positioning which he considers “hypocritical”.

https://www-jeuneafrique-com.translate. ... r_pto=wapp
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Re: RwandAir & Rwandan Aviation News 2023

Post by sn26567 »

rwandan-flyer wrote: 13 Apr 2023, 20:54 Kigali appears again on the Paris airport website. With a 1st RwandAir flight which should arrive in Paris Cdg on June 13, 2023 in the morning.
Rwandair to launch Kigali - Paris CDG - Brussels on 27.06.2023, three times weekly (Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays) with A330-300. Actually, the KGL-BRU flights make a stopover in CDG in both directions.
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Re: RwandAir & Rwandan Aviation News 2023

Post by rwandan-flyer »

Some additional information about the CDG Kigali line. As mentioned above, point-to-point traffic of 14,000 passengers per year makes it the third largest market in Europe for Kigali. In 2022, an average of 19 passengers flew daily between Kigali and Paris. But as often the addition of a non-stop flight will increase the number of O&D.

Brazzaville, Cape Town, Douala, Entebbe, Harare, Johannesburg, Kinshasa (for the moment suspended), Libreville, Lusaka, Nairobi represent an O&D of 600,000 pax in 2022. But SimpleFlying adds the number of 420,000 pax, I guess it is the O&D for 2022.

So I don't know if for the 600,000 it was in 2019 and the 420,000 it's for 2022. The number is high, but the competition is huge: Air France, Ethiopian (although RwandAir has code share with Ethiopian), Egytpair, Royal Air Maroc and Kenya Airways (which however no longer goes to Brazzaville and Libreville). Turkish and Qatar having code share with RwandAir, we will be mainly on synergies:

CDG-IST-DLA-KGL-CDG, or CDG-DOH-NBO-KGL-CDG for example.

We also have Kigali Heathrow traffic data for January 2023 (not the busiest time of the year). A LF of 71.3%, with 18% point-to-point and 86% connection with Lagos clearly in the lead (there are quite a few videos on YT of Nigerians doing LHR-KGL-LOS https://www .youtube.com/results?search_query=rwandair+lagos+london).

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RwandAir has made a request to South African Civil Aviation Authority for cargo service to Johannesburg via Lusaka, using 2 ULS Cargo A310-300Fs which are already flying between Kigali and Lagos for RwandAir Cargo and Doha and Kigali for Qatar Cargo. RwandAir Cargo also launched a few weeks ago its Brazzaville Kigali line in B737-800F (in addition to that operated on Sharjah) in addition to the pax route. Ethiopian Cargo had briefly operated this line in 2013 in B757F https://archive.ph/IMGb6

A) RWANDAIR LTD (B) P.O. Box 7275, Kigali, Rwanda. (C) Class I. (D) Type S2. (E) A1 –A310-300 – Reg: TC-LER and TC-SGM. (F) and (G) (FLKK) Lusaka (Kenneth Kaunda Int – Zambia) –(FAOR) O R Tambo International Airport (Johannesburg) – Lusaka. (H) Three (03) flights per week.

https://www.gov.za/sites/default/files/ ... en1747.pdf

The A310s are "based" at Kigali for 3 days and make a loop:

Doha-Kigali-Lagos-Kigali-Lagos-Kigali-Doha
Doha-Kigali-Johannesburg-Lusaka-Kigali-Doha

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Re: RwandAir & Rwandan Aviation News 2023

Post by rwandan-flyer »

Inauguration of the Kigali Cargo Hub, in the presence of the director of RwandAir and the cargo director of Qatar Airways.

https://www.aviation24.be/airlines/rwan ... frica-hub/

According to Rwandan State TV, Qatar Airways Cargo will operate flights from Kigali to 10 countries in Africa. A bit like ULS does this with its A310 over Nigeria and soon over Zambia and South Africa

@FlyRwandAir Company started a partnership with Qatar Airways Cargo in air cargo transportation, where the Qatar Airways flights will carry cargo to Rwanda, as well as to 10 other African countries from Kigali. This plane made its first trip carrying 100 tons of cargo. The partnership between RwandAir and Qatar Airways Cargo is expected to make Rwanda the hub of air transport in Africa.


https://twitter.com/rbarwanda/status/16 ... 8098416640

RwandAir contacted to relaunch an old route and an old route that was to be launched:

Tel Aviv serves in 2019 and 2020 and then some charter flights. Conakry which was to be served via Bamako from its base in Cotonou (Benin)

O&D KGL TLV in 2019: 7,407 pax compared to 2,607 in 2018 (https://www.routesonline.com/news/29/br ... sh-ist-kix /). The non-stop flight has logically increased point-to-point demand, but it remains low. The flight was 30-35% full on average with sometimes full flights (https://www.topafricanews.com/2020/03/0 ... to-african -market/) and with the arrivals of Emirates, Air Peace (Nigeria), Royal Air Maroc and Egytpair (which replaced Air Sinai) at TLV, competition in Africa is greater. In addition to Turkish and Ethiopian which have been serving TLV for a long time.

Dr. Ron Adam@AmbRonAdam (20Apr23)
This morning I had a great meeting with @FlyRwandAir CEO, @YvonneMakolo. We discussed tourism, aviation and the potential of future flights to Israel. https://twitter.com/AmbRonAdam/status/1 ... 9521835010

O&D KGL CKY in 2019: 969 pax... O&D too low, no possible to tap into the traffic from France (very long detour) and limited network in Asia for RwandAir (Doha Mumbai and Dubai). All this is already well covered by Turkish Airlines, Air France, Ethiopian and Emirates. Apart from collecting crumbs on 5th freedoms, no interest in launching this route https://www.visionguinee.info/le-colone ... et-kigali/

[url=https://servimg.com/view/11287103/2629]Image[ /url]

With Qatar Airways Cargo's biggest competitor in Africa: Ethiopian Cargo (in the background)

[url=https://servimg.com/view/11287103/2630]Image[ /url]

[url=https://servimg.com/view/11287103/2631]Image[ /url]
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