ISTANBUL–RwandAir expects to double the size of its fleet over the coming years as part of a process that will see the carrier phase out some of its regional aircraft.

The Kigali-based airline operates 13 aircraft at the present time, comprising three Airbus A330s, six Boeing 737s, two Bombardier CRJ900s and two De Havilland Canada Dash 8-Q400s. 

“Our goal is to double our fleet size by 2025-26 and we are on track for that,” CEO Yvonne Makolo told ATW at the sidelines of the IATA AGM in Istanbul, Turkey. “We are currently operating 13 aircraft, and we are set to receive our 14th next month. We’re looking at what can replace the regional aircraft, both the CRJs and Q400s.”

Makolo said RwandAir expects to simplify the fleet to end up with three aircraft types. She added: “We are also considering the acquisition of a fourth widebody aircraft, but the majority of our fleet will consist of 737s.”

The airline’s A330s are currently deployed on routes to Brussels, Dubai, Lagos, and London Heathrow. Paris Charles de Gaulle will also receive RwandAir flights later this month using A330s as part of a new Kigali-Paris-Brussels routing. 

Additionally, Makolo confirmed that Qatar Airways’ planned investment in RwandAir is nearing completion. The Doha-based airline signalled its intention to take a 49% stake in the state-owned African carrier in February 2020, but the transaction is yet to be finalized.

"We are in the final stages of concluding the Qatar Airways investment, which experienced delays due to the impact of COVID-19 and the World Cup,” Makolo said. “However, we anticipate finalizing the agreement in the coming months. Apart from this, we have been actively engaged in various commercial initiatives, including codeshares and cargo partnerships."

RwandAir and Qatar Airways signed a codeshare deal in October 2021, following which RwandAir launched a 3X-weekly service between Kigali and Doha. In May 2023, the two carriers also announced plans to jointly operate a cargo hub at Kigali International Airport after RwandAir started cargo operations using a 737-800 converted freighter.

The agreement also sees Qatar Airways operate a 2X-weekly 777 freighter service between Doha and Kigali. The aircraft will fly on to Entebbe in Uganda, Nairobi in Kenya, and then stop in Liege, Belgium, and either Oslo, Norway, or Lyon, France, before returning to Doha.

Additionally, Qatar Airways has been using a wet-leased Airbus A310-200 freighter to fly from Kigali to both Johannesburg and Lagos. Both routes are operated 3X-weekly. The A310-200F is also flying a 1X-weekly Doha-Kigali-Istanbul routing.

“Cargo is a really key growth area for us and through the pandemic it was really the one revenue stream that was growing year-on-year,” Makolo said.

Other cooperation between RwandAir and Qatar Airways includes a loyalty partnership, meaning members of both airlines’ loyalty schemes are able to accrue and redeem points across their reciprocal route networks and make use of their airport lounges at their respective Doha and Kigali hubs.