RwandAir expands fleet with five Airbus A330s, eyes new Europe and Asia routes

Rwanda’s national carrier, RwandAir is adding five leased Airbus A330-200 aircraft as it prepares to expand further into Europe and Asia while working towards doubling its fleet over the next five years.

The airline received the first of the five aircraft in August, with four more expected to join the fleet by the end of the year. The additional aircraft will increase RwandAir’s capacity for long-haul services.

The first A330-200 has 226 seats and has already entered commercial service. It is mainly supporting the airline’s European operations, including additional flights to Paris and Brussels.

RwandAir Acting Chief Commercial Officer Reuben Mbonye said Europe and the Far East are central to the airline’s expansion plans, although new destinations have not yet been announced.

“We are looking to expand in Europe and the Far East. We have big plans in that direction,” Mbonye said.

Frankfurt is being considered as a new European destination, while the airline is also assessing a return to Mumbai in India and Guangzhou in China, two destinations it previously served.

The new aircraft will give RwandAir more capacity and flexibility on long-haul routes while strengthening connections through Kigali between African destinations and international markets. The airline currently serves long-haul destinations including London, Paris, Brussels, Dubai and Doha, alongside its network across East, Central, West and Southern Africa.

RwandAir also plans to double the size of its fleet over the next five years. Its passenger target is to rise from just over one million passengers recorded in 2023/24 to more than 2.1 million annually by 2028/29.

The fleet expansion is happening as Rwanda continues construction of the New Kigali International Airport in Bugesera.

Current official project information says the airport is expected to be completed by the end of 2027, with initial capacity for up to eight million passengers and 150,000 tonnes of cargo annually.

RwandAir has also been expanding its partnerships with other airlines. In June, it signed a codeshare and interline agreement with EgyptAir, giving passengers connections from Kigali to Cairo, Rome and Amman, with additional destinations planned.

Higher operating costs remain another part of RwandAir’s growth plans. Mbonye said rising fuel costs had increased the airline’s expenses and led it to adjust fares.

The carrier is also calling for faster implementation of the Single African Air Transport Market, an African Union initiative aimed at opening aviation markets across the continent and reducing restrictions on air services between African countries.