Rwanda: National carrier ‘RwandAir’ generated $464.2 million revenue in the year 2023, which is 80% more, that was recorded in 2022 i.e. $255 million. The airline plans to increase its fleet from 14 to 28 in five years.
According to the reports, it is also revealed that the government provided RwandAir with RWF 192.3 billion in the year 2023. CEO of company – Yvonne Manzi Makolo said that the airline experienced an exceptional economic recovery since the easing of the pandemic.
Makolo added to her statement that the International Air Transport Association (IATA) forecasts indicate that air travel will triple in the next 20 years. The opportunities for continued growth are substantial.
The recent development is based on three factors: a significant rise in tourism, investment in cargo transport and Kigali’s growing role as a hub for various activities.
CEO Makolo confirmed that RwandAir has been a key pillar in advancing Rwanda’s tourism, connecting Africa with other continents such as Europe and the Middle East through various routes.
She stated that the airline has become a crucial component in the government’s tourism development initiatives, the country welcomed 1.4 million tourists in 2023, nearly tripling the number received in 2021.
Besides the regular tourists visiting various parks and cultural sites, Kigali is now the second most popular city for hosting the conferences in Africa, after Cape Town. This tourism growth is closely linked to the routes.
Emphasized that RwandAir has made Kigali a highly accessible destination for travelers from many countries across different continents.
She noted that the airline’s air cargo transport program will continue to be priority to boost exports. The 2023 report from the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) shows that air cargo transport increased by 22.7% reaching 4,595 tons. The main destinations for cargo include Dubai, the UK and Belgium.
She said, “Promoting air cargo transport is part of government’s strategy to connect Rwanda with the world through trade.”
Recently, the two cargo flights to Dubai and Djibouti were launched and we expect to announce more routes in the near future as new aircrafts are acquired to support this growth.
Air cargo flights from Rwanda mainly transport agricultural products to Europe, the Middle East and the rest of Africa, while imports by air to Rwanda include goods such as medicine and industrial equipment.
Makolo also mentioned that Kigali International Airport has started receiving a significant number of passengers transiting to other countries, now accounting for 60% of all passengers using RwandAir flights.
She added that they increased the flights to Europe in enhancing the connections between Africa and the world and we also launched daily flights from London that began in May 2024.
Moreover, Makolo affirmed the continued efforts and doubling its flight operations within the next five years while providing excellent services.