By Agencies
Summary
·
According
to Simplyflying.com, the airline plans to boost its regional operations as
routes around Africa have proved more profitable and essential for developing
aviation in the continent
RwandAir plans to phase out its smaller Bombardier and possibly its De Havilland Canada aircraft and add more widebody jets to
its fleet.According to Simplyflying.com, the
airline plans to boost its regional operations as routes around Africa have
proved more profitable and essential for developing aviation in the continent.
The plan is to replace the
Bombardier CRJ900s and possibly the DHC-8-Q400s with more Airbus A330s and
Boeing 737s
Fleet
RwandAir currently has a fleet of 11
operational aircraft, which it flies to its destinations in Europe, Asia, and
East, West, and Southern Africa.
In a recent interview with AviaDev,
RwandAir CEO Yvonne Manzi Makolo said they have a very diversified fleet but
want to rationalize it.
“We are looking at expanding the
B737 fleet and the A330 fleet. We are working on phasing out the CRJs and are
discussing regional aircraft, the Q400s as well, whether to continue with that
or to look for alternatives."
The airline is set to receive an
Airbus A330, which will add more capacity, given that last year it split London
from Brussels and started operating direct flights from London to Kigali.
RwandAir needs more widebody jets as
it plans to launch a Paris route tagged to Brussels.
The A330 will also be deployed on
the Dubai route to support both passengers and cargo. RwandAir's fleet consists
of the following aircraft:
RwandAir partnerships
Yvonne Makolo said that discussions
for a strategic partnership with Qatar Airways were at an advanced stage. First
confirmed in February 2020, the Middle-Eastern airline plans to invest $28
million for a 49% stake in RwandAir.
Qatar Airways is also at the
forefront of constructing Kigali's new Bugesera Airport, allowing Rwanda's flag
carrier to grow and strengthen its regional network.
Yvonne Makolo met with the African
Airlines Association (AFRAA) Secretary General Abderahmane Berthe in Kigali
earlier this month.
In the meeting, the two discussed
RwandAir's vision and strategy, the opportunities for value addition through
AFRAA joint projects, and initiatives to enhance revenue.
AFRAA is a trade association of
African airlines headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya. This association aims to
establish and facilitate cooperation between African airlines.
AFRAA developed the dialogue to
create close engagement with member airlines and a space for necessary dialogue
to develop transformative initiatives.
RwandAir plans to boost its regional
operations, by using Kigali International Airport as a central hub for African
flights, given its geographical position at the heart of the continent.
The airline's CEO also plans to
engage with other African carriers to develop aviation around the continent and
change the narrative of African airlines being "loss-making and unsafe.
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