RwandAir

History

Incorporation

After the 1994 genocide, the government took several attempts to revive the former national carrier Air Rwanda that ceased operations during the genocide. Various private companies showed interest in partnering with the government, and Uganda-based SA Alliance Air ran the company from 1997 to 2000.{{cite web|url=https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1997/1997%20-%203062.html?search=air%20rwanda |title=Alliance spreads into Central Africa |last=Yates |first=Chris |access-date=18 May 2018 date=1997 |format=Archived from the Original}} After SA Alliance ceased operations, the government of Rwanda took over the Rwandan operations and re-branded the airline, to ensure its continuity. RwandAir began operations on 1 December 2002 as the new national carrier for Rwanda under the name Rwandair Express (with passenger air transportation as the core activity). In 2016, RwandAir received International Air Transport Association's Safety Audit for Ground Operations (ISAGO).{{cite web|date=11 November 2016

Re-branding

The airline began to expand regionally and by 2009 the network included Dar-es-Salaam, Nairobi, and domestic destinations such as Gisenyi. In March 2009, the airline registered the new trademark RwandAir Limited, which is its current operating name. In June 2009, the airline officially re-branded from Rwandair Express to RwandAir, because the new name implied a large, serious airline, while the "Express" in the former name implied a small regional operation.

In May 2010, Rene Janata became the CEO, introducing a frequent flyer program and developing the airline to become a network carrier. In October 2010, John Mirenge became the new CEO of RwandAir.

2010–2015

In July 2010, the first of RwandAir's new Boeing 737-500s arrived. The second one arrived on 20 October 2010. Both were leased from General Electric Capital Aviation Services (GECAS). Each has a two-class configuration with 12 business class seats and 90 economy class seats.{{cite web|url=https://www.newtimes.co.rw/section/read/23231 | title=Another RwandAir Boeing arrives |access-date=18 May 2018

In August 2011, the airline took delivery of their first aircraft purchased directly from an airline manufacturer. All prior aircraft operated by RwandAir had been either leased or bought as a second-hand aircraft. The aircraft that was purchased is a Boeing 737-800 with Sky Interior, also known as the Boeing 737 Next Generation, and was the only one operating among African airlines. The flight departed from Boeing Field in Seattle, Washington, United States, at 5:30 PM PST. It made its first stop in Keflavík International Airport in Iceland, then it headed for a second stop to Istanbul, Turkey. It finally arrived in Kigali, Rwanda, after a 20-hour flight.

In October 2011, RwandAir took delivery of their second Boeing Next Generation 737-800. During January 2012, the airline disposed of the two CRJ200 aircraft it owned, in anticipation of acquiring two CRJ-900NGs.{{cite web|url=http://www.flightcommagazine.com/single-post/2017/05/03/RwandAir---Daring-to-dream |title=RwandAir: Daring to dream |date=3 May 2017 |access-date=18 May 2018 | publisher=Flightcommagazine.com |author=Flightcommagazine.com}}

In February 2013, John Mirenge announced that the airline would fly to Accra, Cape Town, Harare, Juba, and Zanzibar.

In May 2015, RwandAir officially became an IATA member.

2015 - present

In 2017, the Government of Benin granted RwandAir seventh freedom rights to operate direct flights from Benin. RwandAir plans to base two Boeing 737 aircraft at Cotonou International Airport in Benin.{{cite web|access-date=18 May 2018 |first=David | url=https://www.routesonline.com/news/29/breaking-news/274134/rwandair-launches-cotonou-hub-as-benin-and-rwanda-plan-new-airline/ |title=RwandAir launches Cotonou hub as Benin and Rwanda plan new airline |last=Casey |date=3 August 2017 | publisher=Routesonline.com |location=Manchester, United Kingdom}}

In February 2020, two months after Qatar Airways purchased a 60% stake in Rwanda's Bugesera International Airport, the Qatari state-owned airline purchased a 49% stake in RwandAir.

Flight Pass

In 2019, RwandAir entered into a partnership with USA-based Optiontown to launch a prepaid flight subscription platform called Flight Pass, which enables customers to pre-purchase RwandAir flights at the best available price and decide when they want to travel at a later date.

In September 2022, the airline's intentions in joining Oneworld, with a sponsorship from Qatar Airways, were announced. This would make RwandAir the third airline to enter an airline alliance in East Africa, after Ethiopian Airlines (Star Alliance) and Kenya Airways (SkyTeam), and second African airline after Royal Air Maroc to join Oneworld.

Corporate affairs

Ownership and management

Rwandair is owned 100 percent by the Government of Rwanda. As of May 2021, an agreement to sell a 49 percent stake to Qatar Airways is said to be in the final stages.

The government hoped to privatise the airline after 2013, once it became profitable. However, the process had been abandoned in 2008 after it emerged that nobody at the time was willing to offer the amount expected from the sale.

RwandAir's board of directors is responsible for ensuring that the airline follows a suitable corporate governance framework to ensure the creation and protection of value for the shareholder. Patricie Uwase is currently the chairman of RwandAir since September 2021; the long-time aviation veteran Girma Wake was chairman from 2012 to 2017. Yvonne Manzi Makolo is the current CEO, having been promoted from deputy CEO in charge of Corporate Affairs in April 2018. She replaced acting CEO Col. Chance Ndagano.

Business trends

RwandAir has been loss-making for many years.

Full detailed accounts are rarely published, although intermittently some figures are made public by senior management or the government, or in government budgetary reports. Available trends are shown below (as at year ending 31 December):

Head office

The airline has its head office on the top floor of the main building of Kigali International Airport in Kigali, Rwanda. The airline previously had its head office in Centenary House in Kigali. The airline began moving its operations from Centenary House to the airport on Friday 14 May 2010. The airline was scheduled to be moved in by Monday 17 May 2010. At one previous point the airline had its head office in the Telcom House.

Destinations

As of December 2024, the airline serves 21 countries on 35 routes.

RwandAir serves the following destinations as of May 2023:

Codeshare agreements

RwandAir codeshares with the following airlines:

• Brussels Airlines
• Ethiopian Airlines
• Qatar Airways
• South African Airways{{cite web| url=https://www.newtimes.co.rw/section/read/70558 | title=RwandAir, South African Airways partner |first=Peterson | last=Tumwebaze |date=6 November 2013 |access-date=19 May 2018 | newspaper=New Times (Rwanda) |location=Kigali}}
• Turkish Airlines
• Westair Aviation

Interline agreements

• APG Airlines
• Emirates.

Fleet

, RwandAir operates the following aircraft:

Historical fleet

Since its founding in 2002, RwandAir has operated the following aircraft:

References

References

1. "RwandAir on ch-aviation".
2. Abdur Rahman and Alfa Shaban. (8 April 2018). "Yvonne Makolo: Kagame appoints female CEO for national carrier, RwandAir". Africanews.com.
3. (22 February 2021). "RwandAir picks Accra as hub for flights to US". The East African.
4. (November 2, 2023). "AirlinePros Now Supporting RwandAir as GSA in Singapore". AirlinePros.
5. CAPA Centre for Aviation. (December 21, 2014). "RwandAir plans further regional expansion in 2015 and launch of long-haul services in 2017". CAPA Centre for Aviation.
6. Peterson Tumwebaze. (25 August 2014). "RwandAir changing country's aviation industry through enhanced aviation skills". [[New Times (Rwanda)]].
7. Peterson Tumwebaze. (29 October 2010). "Mirenge new CEO of RwandaAir". [[New Times (Rwanda)]].
8. Peterson Tumwebaze. (28 August 2011). "RwandAir's new Boeing 737-800NB plane lands". [[New Times (Rwanda)]].
9. Business Reporter. (13 February 2013). "RwandAir eyes Harare route". [[NewsDay (Zimbabwean newspaper).
10. Bateta, Agnes. (24 January 2016). "Global umbrella gives RwandAir kudos". [[East African Business Week]].
11. "Qatar Airways in talks to buy 49% stake in Rwanda's state carrier". Al Jazeera.
12. (10 February 2020). "Qatar Airways confirms purchase of 49% stake in RwandAir". The Africa Report.
13. "Qatar Airways in Talks to Buy 49% RwandAir Stake, Interested in Increasing LATAM Investment". The New York Times.
14. "RwandAir Flight Pass".
15. The New Times. (25 December 2019). "The New Times".
16. (15 September 2022). "RWANDAIR WILL JOIN ONEWORLD ALLIANCE". Live and let's Fly.
17. Saul Butera. (12 February 2013). "RwandAir May Offer Shares After Returning to Profit in Two Years". [[Bloomberg.com]].
18. (26 March 2021). "Govt in final talks with Qatar Airways over RwandAir equity". Logistics Update Africa.
19. (22 March 2021). "Kigali in final talks with Qatar over RwandAir equity". ch-aviation.
20. RNA Reporter. (4 September 2010). "RwandAir to be sold after becoming profitable – Finance Minister". Rwanda News Agency (RNA).
21. Ivan Mugisha. (24 January 2013). "RwandAir could be privatised in 2015 as Umubano deal drags on". [[New Times (Rwanda)]].
22. Ministry of Finance And Economic Planning (Minecofin). (September 2010). "Ministry of Finance And Economic Planning: Budget Execution Report For The Fiscal Year 2009/10".
23. Ministry of Finance And Economic Planning (Minecofin). (October 2011). "Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning: Budget Execution Report For The Fiscal Year 2010/11".
24. Kabona, Esiara. (12 April 2013). "RwandAir targets $350 million sales by 2018". [[The EastAfrican]].
25. Ministry of Finance And Economic Planning (Minecofin). (14 June 2012). "Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning: Budget Speech for the Financial Year 2012/13".
26. Ministry of Finance And Economic Planning (Minecofin). (September 2013). "Ministry of Finance And Economic Planning: Budget Execution Report For The Financial Year 2012/2013".
27. Ministry of Finance And Economic Planning (Minecofin). (September 2014). "Ministry of Finance And Economic Planning: Budget Execution Report for The Fiscal Year 2013/14".
28. Sanchez, Dana. (27 January 2016). "RwandAir Rising, Adding Aircraft, Flights To Europe, Asia". AFKInsider.com.
29. Minifra. (June 2015). "Transport Sector Bulletin 2014/15". Rwanda Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport (Minifra).
30. Ministry of Finance And Economic Planning (Minecofin). (April 2015). "Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning: Budget Framework Paper 2015/2016, 2016/2017 & 2017/2018".
31. Himbara, David. (16 May 2018). "Kagame's RwandAir Lost US$54.8 Million In 2016". Medium.com.
32. (12 February 2019). "Rwandair growth and still no profits". Airliners.net.
33. (2017). "AFRAA Annual Report 2017". AFRAA.
34. (2021). "APPLICATION OF RWANDAIR LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY FOR AMENDINGFOREIGN AIR CARRIER PERMIT". US Department of Transport.
35. (2018). "AFRAA Annual Report 2018". AFRAA.
36. (12 February 2019). "AFRAA Annual Report 2019". airliners.net forum.
37. (2019). "Rwandair growth: Ministry of Finance subsidies". AFRAA.
38. (August 2020). "BUDGET EXECUTION REPORT JULY 2019 - JUNE 2020". MINISTRY OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC PLANNING.
39. (2020). "Rwandair growth 2019". AFRAA.
40. "[http://www.rwandair.com/about/contact-us.html All RwandAir Offices & Branches] {{Webarchive. link. (6 May 2011 ." RwandAir. Retrieved on 24 May 2011. "Kigali Head Office Kigali International Airport Main Building (top floor)")
41. (October 2025 RwandAir. Retrieved on 16 June 2010.)
42. [[Flight International]] 12–18 April 2005
43. "World Airline Directory." ''Flight International''. 30 March - 5 April 2004. [https://web.archive.org/web/20121102160700/http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/2004/2004-09%20-%200303.html 61]. "Telcom House, Boulevard delumuganda, Kigli, Kacyiru"
44. (2023-11-21). "RwandAir Flights and Destinations - mFlightConnections".
45. Rwandair. (15 August 2013). "Rwandair flight schedule". Rwandair.
46. Liu, Jim. (14 February 2018). "Rwandair adds new African destinations in 2Q18". Routesonline.com.
47. (18 September 2020). "RwandAir to Resume Service to London and Brussels". businesstravelnews.com.
48. (22 March 2019). "Rwandair schedules Guangzhou launch in June 2019". RoutesOnline.
49. (31 January 2020). "Coronavirus live updates". New York Times.
50. (4 January 2019). "Rwandair adds Addis Ababa service from April 2019".
51. "Rwandair Schedules late-June 2023 Paris Launch".
52. (5 March 2024). "Rwandair discontinues Mumbai service from mid-March 2024". AeroRoutes.
53. (14 May 2019). "Rwandair schedules Tel Aviv launch in June 2019". RoutesOnline.
54. (2020). "COVID-19 (Corona Virus) Updates and Travel Guidelines to Our Network". Rwandair.
55. (2 December 2021). "Hamad International Airport welcomes RwandAir's direct flights from Kigali to Doha".
56. Peterson Tumwebaze. (17 April 2009). "Rwandair in code sharing agreement with Brussels Airlines". [[New Times (Rwanda)]].
57. Tumwebaze, Peterson. (8 September 2009). "Rwandair strikes code share deal with Ethiopian Airlines". [[New Times (Rwanda)]].
58. "Code-share partners".
59. "FlyWestair | Book Our Flights Online & Save | Low-Fares, Offers & More".
60. "All Partner Airlines".
61. "Emirates' travel partners | Emirates United States".
62. (September 2025). "Global Airline Guide 2025 - RwandAir".
63. Bombardier. (27 February 2014). "Bombardier Delivers Dual-Class Q400 NextGen Airliner to RwandAir". [[Bombardier Aerospace]].
64. (21 November 2022). "RwandAir to add a B737-800 P2F freighter".