By Staff Reporter
KIGALI: Rwanda’s national airline, RwandAir, is preparing to expand its long-haul network into Europe and the Far East as it adds five Airbus A330 aircraft to its fleet, strengthening Kigali’s ambitions to become a major aviation hub in Africa.
The airline received its first Airbus A330-200 in August and expects four additional aircraft of the same type to join the fleet by the end of the year. The expansion is expected to increase capacity on existing long-haul routes while creating room for new destinations.
RwandAir acting chief commercial officer Reuben Mbonye said the carrier was planning further expansion into Europe and the Far East, although specific new destinations are yet to be announced.
The additional wide-body aircraft will allow RwandAir to increase frequencies on key European routes, including Paris and Brussels, while supporting its ambitions to establish new connections with major international markets.
The airline is also considering launching flights to Frankfurt in Germany and restoring services to Mumbai in India and Guangzhou in China.
The first of the five A330-200s, which can accommodate about 226 passengers in RwandAir’s configuration, has already entered commercial service and is being used primarily to support the carrier’s European operations. The remaining four aircraft are expected to be introduced progressively in the coming months.
RwandAir is acquiring the five aircraft through leasing arrangements, according to the airline.
The fleet expansion forms part of a broader strategy to grow passenger numbers and strengthen Kigali as a connecting point between Africa, Europe and Asia.
RwandAir aims to more than double annual passenger numbers from slightly above one million in 2023/24 to more than 2.1 million by 2028/29 through fleet expansion, additional routes and strategic partnerships.
The airline’s growth strategy is also linked to the development of the new Bugesera International Airport, a major infrastructure project expected to provide additional capacity for Rwanda’s aviation ambitions. The airport’s first phase is expected to handle up to seven million passengers annually, with capacity planned to increase further in later phases.
RwandAir currently operates a mixed fleet that includes Airbus A330s, Boeing 737-800NGs, Bombardier Q400s and a dedicated freighter.
The airline has also been adding Boeing 737-800 aircraft to strengthen its short- and medium-haul operations. RwandAir said the additional aircraft would improve operational reliability and provide greater flexibility across its network.
The expansion comes as African airlines seek to capture a greater share of the continent’s growing international aviation market, while Kigali positions itself as a transit hub connecting passengers from different parts of Africa with destinations outside the continent.
RwandAir’s long-haul expansion could give travellers more direct options between Africa and European and Asian markets while increasing the volume of connecting passengers passing through Kigali.
