KIGALI, RWANDA - Rwanda has announced that rehabilitation of Kigali-Gatuna highway on the northern corridor that links the country to Uganda and Kenya will start next year.
Rwanda is behind Uganda, which has already started works to rehabilitate Mbarara- Katuna road that is linked to the one in Rwanda.
The highway is the main channel through which most of Rwanda's exports and imports pass. It also links to Burundi and Eastern DR Congo in western Rwanda.
Strabag, a German road construction company that is yet to sign a final contract with the Government of Rwanda to rehabilitate the road will start installing its equipment in the area in January and rehabilitation could start in May, according to State Minister in Charge of Transport in the Ministry of Infrastructure Mr. Alexis Nzahabwanimana.
Mr. Nzahabwanimana said that Strabag itself will be paid Rf32 billion (US$54 million) which excludes funds that will be paid to another company that will supervise construction works. This implies that rehabilitation of Kigali-Gatuna highway will cost more than Rf32 billion (US$54 million). The European Union and the Rwandan Government are the main funders of the road.
Currently, the road, which starts from the heart of Kigali City, is 77.5 kilometres long. However, not all of it will be rehabilitated and expanded. Rehabilitation will start at Nyabugugo leaving the portion from the City Centre untouched. This means less than or three kilometres will be left out.
Between Nyabugogo and Gatuna, the road is 6 meters wide and it will be expanded to 7 meter.
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Rwanda to rehabilitate Kigali-Gatuna highway
Scramble for Burundi airspace on
Last week, Air Uganda started direct flights to Bujumbura from Entebbe. In the same week, South African Airways (SAA) announced that it would start flights to Bujumbura via Kigali.
Then in the same week, Air Tanzania Company Limited (ATCL) has resumed flights and Burundi fliers are part of their target market.
Air Uganda plans to fly to Bujumbura three times a week on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays seemingly targeting the tourist and business traveler who is connecting through Entebbe which it has termed a 'significant international meeting point.' The plan is to take travelers to Bujumbura where there are significant leisure activities and visits to beautiful national parks while bringing Burundians to 'track lions in the savannah, or walk through the rainforest to spot the rare and famous silverback gorilla.' Its fleet includes two Bombardier CRJ200s and two McDonnell Douglas MD-87s
For its part, South African Airways also plans a three times a week schedule to start in January next year in a "strategy to expand our African operations into countries of increasing economic significance on the continent, particularly those that are currently hard to reach," according to SAA's Head of Australasia, Thevan Krishna. "We have seen more demand from both recreational and business travelers for expanded routes and travel options and this move helps meet that. Rwanda is growing as an economic and cultural as well as tourist destination while Burundi is a major exporter of tea and coffee," he added.SAA plans to use the A319 aircraft that is capable of carrying 120 passengers for this route.
ATCL plans to service passengers in Burundi's southern provinces who would find it easier to take a 40 minutes ride to Kigoma from the southerly city of Makamba then catch an ATCL flight to Dar-es-Salaam. The governor fo Makamba province, Mr Niyayubaye Vicent, said transport was a crucial component in the endeavour to bring development, therefore, he regarded ATCL flights to Kigoma as something which brings hopes to people in his province. This was at an inaugural flight of ATCL's Dash 8-300 aircraft last week from Dar-es-Salaam to Kigoma.
In an exclusive interview with the Managing Director Air Burundi two months ago, East African Business Week had learnt that Turkish Airlines had also planned to start operations in Bujumbura this month.
This would bring to operation all the regional carriers, Kenya Airways, Uganda Airlines, ATCL and Rwandair into Burundi's airspace. This, coupled with several international carriers like SAA, Brussels Airlines and Ethiopian Airlines, means Burundians will be spoilt for choice and the price of air travel should soon be affordable to more travelers. It also means there is an increasing confidence in the business climate in Burundi and that the touristic potential of this tiny East African country of nearly 10 million persons is now being recognized.
Then in the same week, Air Tanzania Company Limited (ATCL) has resumed flights and Burundi fliers are part of their target market.
Air Uganda plans to fly to Bujumbura three times a week on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays seemingly targeting the tourist and business traveler who is connecting through Entebbe which it has termed a 'significant international meeting point.' The plan is to take travelers to Bujumbura where there are significant leisure activities and visits to beautiful national parks while bringing Burundians to 'track lions in the savannah, or walk through the rainforest to spot the rare and famous silverback gorilla.' Its fleet includes two Bombardier CRJ200s and two McDonnell Douglas MD-87s
For its part, South African Airways also plans a three times a week schedule to start in January next year in a "strategy to expand our African operations into countries of increasing economic significance on the continent, particularly those that are currently hard to reach," according to SAA's Head of Australasia, Thevan Krishna. "We have seen more demand from both recreational and business travelers for expanded routes and travel options and this move helps meet that. Rwanda is growing as an economic and cultural as well as tourist destination while Burundi is a major exporter of tea and coffee," he added.SAA plans to use the A319 aircraft that is capable of carrying 120 passengers for this route.
ATCL plans to service passengers in Burundi's southern provinces who would find it easier to take a 40 minutes ride to Kigoma from the southerly city of Makamba then catch an ATCL flight to Dar-es-Salaam. The governor fo Makamba province, Mr Niyayubaye Vicent, said transport was a crucial component in the endeavour to bring development, therefore, he regarded ATCL flights to Kigoma as something which brings hopes to people in his province. This was at an inaugural flight of ATCL's Dash 8-300 aircraft last week from Dar-es-Salaam to Kigoma.
In an exclusive interview with the Managing Director Air Burundi two months ago, East African Business Week had learnt that Turkish Airlines had also planned to start operations in Bujumbura this month.
This would bring to operation all the regional carriers, Kenya Airways, Uganda Airlines, ATCL and Rwandair into Burundi's airspace. This, coupled with several international carriers like SAA, Brussels Airlines and Ethiopian Airlines, means Burundians will be spoilt for choice and the price of air travel should soon be affordable to more travelers. It also means there is an increasing confidence in the business climate in Burundi and that the touristic potential of this tiny East African country of nearly 10 million persons is now being recognized.
Rwanda Air to launch direct flights to Lagos
KIGALI, RWANDA - RwandAir, Rwanda's national airline has announced it will launch direct flights to Lagos, Nigeria in December making the vast West African City its 13th destination.
RwandAir CEO John Mirenge made the revelation recently in the Rwandan capital Kigali when the national carrier was marking delivery of its brand new Boeing 737-800NG airplane from the United States adding to another one delivered in August. This increases RwandAir's fleet size to seven aircraft as the small airline strives to stay-off costly commercial leases of airplanes.
Mr. Mirenge said adding Lagos to RwandAir's destinations was just a 'natural addition'. He said the first Boeing 737-800 New Generation delivered in August has been deployed into Dubai route, which is one of the airline's latest destinations.
RwandAir currently operates domestic and regional flights in East Africa, Central and Southern Africa as well as Dubai. Mirenge said the airline plans to extend flights to Asia.
However, RwandAir, which is acquiring all the planes on loans guaranteed by the government to the tune of US$240 million, is facing tough competition from regional and international players.
RwandAir CEO John Mirenge made the revelation recently in the Rwandan capital Kigali when the national carrier was marking delivery of its brand new Boeing 737-800NG airplane from the United States adding to another one delivered in August. This increases RwandAir's fleet size to seven aircraft as the small airline strives to stay-off costly commercial leases of airplanes.
Mr. Mirenge said adding Lagos to RwandAir's destinations was just a 'natural addition'. He said the first Boeing 737-800 New Generation delivered in August has been deployed into Dubai route, which is one of the airline's latest destinations.
RwandAir currently operates domestic and regional flights in East Africa, Central and Southern Africa as well as Dubai. Mirenge said the airline plans to extend flights to Asia.
However, RwandAir, which is acquiring all the planes on loans guaranteed by the government to the tune of US$240 million, is facing tough competition from regional and international players.
Airtickets to reduce as more airlines target Entebbe
Entebbe, Uganda - As Entebbe Airport passenger numbers close to a record 1.5million at the end of the year more airlines are flying in.
For airport users, the competition means prices to some of the key destinations are likely to reduce.
This year alone Uganda has so far attracted new Airlines with Qatar Airways launching daily flights last week and Gulf Air set to launch in December with four flights a week.
This is in addition to Turkish Airlines which launched in October.
Major world destinations like London, New York, Dubai, Mumbai, Beijing and Shanghai can now be reached using many airlines at competitive rates.
Emirates Airlines, British Airways, Kenya Airways, Qatar Airways and KLM all make connections to Dubai at rates of between $420 and $800 depending on the Airline.
Dubai remains a busy connection hub to various world destinations but for some Ugandans it is a business centre.
Mr Ignie Igundura, the CAA's public relations manager, says new airlines like Qatar and Gulf break the dominance that has mostly been enjoyed by Emirates and Turkish Airlines in the Middle East.
"Ticket fares will reduce in the long term as more flights connect to Hong Kong, Beijing, Doha, Dubai and Mumbai as business destinations," Igundura adds.
As the holiday season approaches, promotional offers have started to show up with flights to Europe at a minimum of $244 inclusive of taxes.
This without doubt shows that the players in the market have had to adjust to take advantage of the growing passenger numbers and competition.
Dubai, London, Amsterdam, Nairobi, Istanbul and Addis Ababa are some of the connecting hubs.
Qatar Airways based in Doha and Gulf Air based in Bahrain, are closer connection hubs to the Middle East. For passengers looking to avoid the Dubai congestion, the alternative hubs are not only less congested but also proving to be cheaper.
"There will be further expansion over the coming months that will include additional routes and capacity increases to many other destinations worldwide offering passengers from Uganda even more choice of travel options," says Akbar al-Baker the Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer.
The challenge for Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) however is the huge import bill on aviation fuel that is still higher than that of Kenya and Tanzania. Despite the high aviation fuel, the number of flights in and out of Entebbe have increased to various world destinations as prices get friendlier and with more passengers also flying into the country.
"If Uganda's prospecting oil sector can refine aviation fuel then, we will have to prepare for an influx of airlines since it would be cheaper to re-fuel at Entebbe," Igundura says.
In addition, aviation experts concur that increased airline activity at the airport reduces the unit cost of jet fuel and other airline activities. More airlines lead to increased bulk importation of fuel and hence reduced unit cost of the fuel. "Reduced fuel prices ease the pressure on our ticketing which would be good for our passengers," says Orhan Osubay the Turkish Airlines Uganda Country Manager.
CAA says it is working on master-plan to improve the services at the airport so to match the services with the increased passenger numbers.
The master-plan for the next five years includes increasing the aircraft parking apron, expanding the passenger terminal and also decongesting the Kampala Entebbe road by lobbying for the quick construction of another route to connect the airport to the capital, Kampala.
Bram Steller leaves KQ
Kenya Airways Chief Operating Officer Bram Steller has left the airline to go and head Air Seychelles.
Steller who has been with KQ since 2008 will be the new Chief Executive Officer of Air Seychelles beginning October 1 following a recent restructuring.
At Kenya Airways, Steller oversaw crucial operations of the airline. He was previously the Chief Operating Officer of Kenya Airways since 2008 and was in charge of flight operations.
He was also earlier in 2000 employed as the Commercial Director of Kenya Airways responsible for designing its network and schedule and expanding the Kenyan airline's Europe and Africa connections as well as doubling the Asia-Africa traffic.
Steller who has been with KQ since 2008 will be the new Chief Executive Officer of Air Seychelles beginning October 1 following a recent restructuring.
At Kenya Airways, Steller oversaw crucial operations of the airline. He was previously the Chief Operating Officer of Kenya Airways since 2008 and was in charge of flight operations.
He was also earlier in 2000 employed as the Commercial Director of Kenya Airways responsible for designing its network and schedule and expanding the Kenyan airline's Europe and Africa connections as well as doubling the Asia-Africa traffic.
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