RwandAir acquires new aircraft

• By Peterson Tumwebaze

The 737-700 NG brand new Aircraft will replace the second Boeing 737-500 which has been serving for about 20 years The New Times/Timothy Kisambira.

RwandAir has added another brand new aircraft to its fleet.
A second dry leased Boeing 737-700 NG brand new Aircraft from Germany landed at Kigali International Airport 3:05pm local time yesterday.

The aircraft will replace the second Boeing 737-500 which has served for about 20 years, according to John Mirenge, CEO RwandAir.

“The arrival of this aircraft means that our fleet is now standing at two owned Boeing 737 – 800NG, two owned CRJ900NG, two dry leased Boeing 737-700NG and one wet leased DASH8,” Mirenge noted.

He added that the aircraft will help consolidate the newly launched flight routes in Africa but also enable the airline to reach further places, including southern Europe.

 “Our vision as an airline is to make sure that we operate aircrafts not exceeding six years and above,” Mirenge said. 

Silas Lwakabamba, the Minister for Infrastructure, commended the national flag carrier for its contribution towards the country’s economic development.

“Everybody should be proud of this airline because of the contribution its making for us, especially on trade promotion, tourism and aviation industry; many airlines are coming here partly because of the success story of RwandAir,” Lwakabamba said.

He reaffirmed government’s support to the aviation industry.

“We are not only giving Kigali International Airport a vigour facelift but are also doing what we must do to ensure that Bugesera Airport is ready by 2017. This will not only support Kigali International Airport but also boost our aviation industry.”   

Recently, RwandAir opened a new route to Accra Ghana.

It also operates international flights to Nairobi and Mombasa in Kenya, Entebbe, Uganda, Bujumbura, Burundi and Dar es Salaam, Kilimanjaro and Mwanza in Tanzania.

The airline also flies to Johannesburg, South Africa, Dubai, Libreville and Brazzaville.

It is also planning to start flights to Juba in South Sudan, as well as Douala in Cameroon and Abidjan, Ivory Coast this year, according to Mirenge.

The next delivery is expected to arrive February next year according to the airline officials.