RwandAir Plans European and Far East Routes as Fleet Expansion Accelerates
RwandAir is targeting long-haul expansion into Europe and the Far East as the carrier scales up its widebody fleet, with plans to double its total fleet over the next five years. The airline received an Airbus A330-200 in August 2026 and expects four additional aircraft of the same type by year-end. Acting chief commercial officer Reuben Mbonye, speaking at Aviation Africa 2026 in Nairobi, confirmed that new destination announcements are forthcoming, with Europe and the Far East central to the carrier's growth strategy.
The expansion plans are underpinned by the development of Bugesera International Airport, a $2 billion project being developed in partnership with Qatar Airways, which holds a 60% stake. The first phase, with capacity for 7 million passengers annually, is expected to be completed in 2028, with a final phase targeting 14 million passengers by around 2032. Mbonye also flagged broader structural challenges facing African aviation, calling for stronger political commitment to the Single African Air Transport Market, and noting that high taxes and operating costs - exacerbated by fuel price pressures - continue to constrain connectivity and affordability across the continent.
Source: Aviation Week
