Rwandair Buys Airbus Planes to Penetrate Europe, Asia

Rwanda’s National Carrier, Rwandair, has purchased two brand new A330s Airbus Planes, which it says will allow East Africa’s fastest growing airline to aggressively penetrate the highly competitive destinations into Europe and Asia.

Rwandair is the first airline in East Africa to make such an order. “We are delighted that RwandAir has confirmed its confidence in the A330, and are extremely pleased to welcome them as a new A330 customer,” said John Leahy, Airbus Chief Operating Officer.

According to the aircraft specifications, RwandAir’s A330s will be equipped with Rolls Royce Trent 772B engines.

The 13-year old airliner, the youngest in East Africa, serves the following destinations (excluding code-share destinations), South Africa, Ghana, , Zambia, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, South Sudan, Cameroon, Brazzaville and East African cities.

It has codeshare agreements with Brussels Airlines, Ethiopian Airlines, Turkish Airlines, South African Airways and Air Uganda.

With green light, in June, 2014, given by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), to fly anywhere around the world, Rwanda is convinced it can compete with global giants and seems determined at all costs.

Then ater testing the waters by flying to Dubai, with the purchase of the new A330s Airbus Planes, the airline says it will be ready to penetrate the European market next year.

John Mirenge, Chief Executive Officer of RwandAir said that the A330 is a wide aircraft that will fly to its Europe, Middle East  and Asia destinations.

“We have found the A330 to perfectly support our plans to expand into Europe and Asia, to enhance our regional presence, to open up new routes and to grow our market share,” he said.

According to local press, Rwanda will spend roughly $65 million (Rwf 46 billion) to purchase the two planes. However, Mirenge told KTPress that the price of the planes is still confidential.

A330 passenger aircraft

The A330 family, according to Leahy, “offers a unique combination of unbeatable economics, versatility and fuel efficiency.”

Passengers will enjoy a new flying experience with state of the art in-flight entertainment systems and best-in-class passenger comfort.

The A330 passenger aircraft is fitted with 250 to 300 seats. This type of aircraft has attracted almost 1,500 orders, with over 1,150 aircraft flying with more than 100 operators worldwide.

With seven fleets in operation now, and six ordered fleets, the airline, 99% owned by government, makes about $50 million, annually and  $350 million by 2018.

Source: KT Press