Speaking exclusively to IGIHE, Chief Commercial Officer Fouad Caunhye confirmed that the new aircraft will arrive in phases, with the A330 wide-body expected in August, followed by the two Boeing 737s by September.
'There's number four coming before the end of the year,' said Caunhye. 'We're planning for our fourth wide-body Airbus to come around August, so the paperwork is being finalised now. But number four will not be the last oneâ€"nor is it sufficient to meet all our planned requirements.'
The new aircraft are expected to boost RwandAir's available seat kilometres (ASK) by an additional 100 million, representing a 15â€"20% increase in capacity. Despite this growth, Caunhye noted it remains below the soaring market demand across Africa, which continues to outpace global trends.
The incoming Airbus A330 will be deployed mainly on the airline's high-demand London Heathrow route, offering much-needed backup given the strict slot rules at the UK hub.
'Given the slot rules in London, it's very tricky with three aircraftâ€"when one goes down, we face challenges with our slots,' RwandAir CEO Yvonne Makolo told African Aerospace on the sidelines of the African Airlines Association's 13th Aviation Stakeholders Convention held in Kigali in May.
The aircraft is also expected to reinforce RwandAir's Lagos service, another key West African destination, as the carrier aims to deepen its regional connectivity while maintaining its growing international footprint.
The fleet expansion forms part of a broader strategy that follows RwandAir's recognition as Best Regional Airline in Africa at the 2025 Skytrax Awards, received in June at the Paris Air Show.
The accolade, which CCO Caunhye described as 'a testimony to the precision of all the bolts and cogs coming together,' reflects the airline's progress in enhancing service quality and operational resilience.
Currently, RwandAir operates a fleet of 13 aircraft, including two A330-200s, one A330-300, six Boeing 737 Next Generation jets, two Bombardier CRJ900s, and two De Havilland Dash 8-400s.
The upcoming additions will not only boost seat capacity but also support RwandAir's expanding network, as the airline positions Kigali as a strategic hub connecting East, West, and Southern Africa to key international gateways such as London, Paris, Doha, and Dubai.
Additionally, new routes to Mombasa and Zanzibar are expected by the end of 2025, with Jeddah planned for early 2026.
Beyond passenger traffic, RwandAir is also ramping up its cargo operations. The airline currently operates a Boeing 737 freighter and is exploring the acquisition of a wide-body cargo aircraft to transport Rwandan exports such as coffee and tea to markets in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.
Caunhye acknowledged the challenges of operating in Africa, including high operating costs, geopolitical disruptions, and limited profit margins on long-haul routes. Still, he expressed confidence that with fleet expansion, strategic partnerships, and the upcoming completion of Bugesera International Airport, RwandAir is well-positioned to become one of Africa's leading carriers.
'We are not yet at full equilibrium,' he said. 'But with sustained investment, an expanding network, and an empowered workforce, we're building an airline that connects Rwanda to the worldâ€"and the world to Rwanda.'
Wycliffe Nyamasege
Source : https://en.igihe.com/business-62/article/rwandair-to-add-fourth-airbus-two-boeing-737s-to-its-fleet
