By Ivan Mugisha/The African Report
Partnerships fuel airline’s quest to expand reach and connectivity to rival African aviation heavyweights.
RwandAir, the national carrier of Rwanda, has steadfastly become a strong player in African aviation. Launched in 2002 with just two Boeing 737s, it has grown its regional presence into a fleet of 14 aircraft serving 29 destinations across Africa, Europe, the Middle East and Asia.
Touted as one of the most ambitious airlines in Africa, RwandAir marked its 20th anniversary this year with a grand five-year plan to increase its African routes and fleet.
Its CEO, Yvonne Makolo, told The Africa Report that the airline plans to add at least 10 extra routes within the next five years, bringing the total to 39. “We are planning on opening several new African routes, including Mombasa, Zanzibar, Maputo, and others, and are constantly reviewing to see the most viable ones,” she told The Africa Report.
“To do that, we are also looking at increasing our fleet from the current 14, including the freighter, to about 25 aircraft in the next five years,” she said.
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In 10 years, the airline will require up to 4,000 employees, including 562 pilots, 856 cabin crews, 545 engineers, and 1,428 ground staff positions to support its growth trajectory.
RwandAir’s ambition is clear, according to Makolo, and it is to become the leading airline in Africa.
About turn
“We plan to continue investing in our people, which includes bringing in additional staff, pilots, engineers… a big focus is on training local staff and pilots as well as working with Akagera Aviation to train pilots,” said Makolo.
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Out of the current 193 pilots at RwandAir, only 18% are locals. “We currently have 35 local pilots. However, we have about 20 who are just about to go online after graduating from the Akagera Aviation School. We also have young Rwandan men and women who went abroad for private studies. In the coming year, we shall have close to 30 additional local pilots,” she said.
“It is more affordable to have local staff than bringing in expatriates. This is not only in terms of affordability for the airline but also a convenience to have local talent when it comes to employment and benefits.”
“With expatriate staff, you usually have staff who are a lot more expensive, and they also commute, meaning they have to spend some time away when they have to travel and be with their families. There’s more efficient utilisation of resources when you have local staff.”
New partnerships
RwandAir is banking on a partnership deal with Qatar Airways, expected to be finalised “in the coming months” under which Qatar will help streamline the airline’s operations and turn it profitable, making it one of the best in Africa.
“We’re in the final stages [of arranging our partnership],” said Makolo. “We’re hoping in the coming months that we can conclude this, but in the meantime, we’re still working together on some initiatives. They, for example, are assisting us in the acquisition of aircraft, including the recent ones we got.
“From a commercial perspective, we’re working with Qatar Airways to have an extended code-share arrangement where we access over 65 of their routes using the RwandAir ticket, and they access a number of our routes as well.”
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Once Qatar Airways is confirmed as the owner of a 49% stake in RwandAir – the announcement is due in the coming months, said Makolo – this will provide it with the much-needed capital to achieve its growth and profitability plans. The airline is also fast-tracking the construction of the new Bugesera Airport in south-eastern Rwanda, due for completion in 2026.
“We’re currently accessing New York with Qatar Airways. We have access to about 13 points in the US under the codeshare with Qatar Airways, but the discussion is still ongoing to see if we can do it ourselves down the road.”
Additionally, RwandAir has code-sharing agreements with several airlines, including Brussels Airlines, Turkish Airlines, and Air Côte d’Ivoire, further expanding its reach and connectivity.
“Our most profitable routes are the regional ones, but we also have long-haul routes that contribute a lot to the rest of the network,” she said.
Fiercely competitive
The African aviation market is fiercely competitive, with established players like Ethiopian Airlines, Kenya Airways, and South African Airways vying for dominance. These airlines have larger fleets, wider networks, and deeper pockets, posing a significant challenge to RwandAir’s growth aspirations.
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Moreover, low-cost carriers like Air Arabia and Fastjet are rapidly gaining traction in Africa, offering budget-conscious travellers an attractive alternative. Makolo said RwandAir is navigating this competitive landscape by finding ways to differentiate itself and attract passengers while keeping costs under control.
“Competition will always be there, and as RwandAir, we always strive to be the best. Sometimes we fall short, but we pick ourselves up and make sure we close all the gaps. But I think there’s enough market for all the regional airlines,” Makolo said.