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Showing posts with label Kigali. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kigali. Show all posts

Monday, March 18, 2013

►► KENYA: First of four Kenya Airways Boeing 737-300s set for Cargo conversion.

Kenya Airways Cargo logo[UPDATE 18 MARCH] Kenya Airways (KQ) has announced plans to convert four of its six Boeing 737-300s into regional cargo freighters in a move that will see the carriers' cargo division, Kenya Airways Cargo, increasing its presence in Eastern, Central, and Southern Africa.

Wednesday, March 6, 2013

► CONGO (BRAZZAVILLE): Launch of Air CEMAC delayed once more; this time until late 2013.

Air CEMACAs prognosticated by The African Aviation Tribune in November 2012, Air CEMAC, the planned regional carrier to link Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Congo (Brazzaville), Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Chad and São Tomé & Príncipe, has indeed been forced to delay its intended January 2013 launch date, this time, to November/December 2013.

Friday, February 22, 2013

► RWANDA: KLM to boost Kigali, Entebbe frequencies to daily from April.

KLM
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines(KL) will, from 5 April, boost its frequency on its Amsterdam to Entebbe, Uganda via Kigali, Rwanda route from 6x weekly, to a daily service with the introduction of a Tuesday (Day 2) service.

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

■ RWANDA: Netherlands, Rwanda sign Air Services Agreement.

NetherlandsRwandaRwanda and The Netherlands, on Wednesday 6 February, signed a Bilateral Air Services Agreement following a visit to Kigali by Dutch Minister for Foreign Trade & Development Cooperation, Lilianne Ploumen. In typically wooden diplomatic language, no explicit details about the contents of the BASA were revealed. The agreement, signed on behalf of Rwanda by Minister of Infrastructure, Albert Nsengiyumva, now accommodates "both countries’ current requirements and wishes" and formalizes the air connection between the two countries.

Thursday, February 7, 2013

► TANZANIA: A look at Precision Air's network expansion plans for 2016.

Precision Air Rwandan aviation blog, Rwandan-Flyer, reports that Tanzanian private carrier and interim flag carrier, Precision Air (PW), is planning a big regional expansion programme in the coming months with new services to Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, Angola and Mozambique to be added by 2016.

Thursday, January 31, 2013

► DUBAI: RwandAir resumes Mombasa - Dubai, reduces Bujumbura frequencies from February.

RwandAirRwandair (WB) has announced the resumption of its 5th freedom flights between Mombasa (Kenya) and Dubai with3x weekly flights effective 02FEB13. Additionally, the carrier will from 01FEB13 reduce its current service to the Burundian capital, Bujumbura, from 3x to 2x daily flights, following the suspension of flights to Mwanza (Tanzania) effective 31JAN13.

Wednesday, January 2, 2013

►► KENYA: Rwandair boosts Nairobi with 5 additional flights starting 25 January.

RwandAir[UPDATE 3 JANUARY] Following the announcement late last year of a new partnership between Kenya Airways (KQ) and Rwandan national carrier, RwandAir (WB), the latter have announced an increase in their weekly frequencies to the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, served via Entebbe, Uganda. Effective 25 January, Rwandair will add an extra 5 weekly flights to Nairobi using a Canadair CRJ900.

Thursday, December 6, 2012

► RWANDA: RwandAir announces modifications to its NW 2012/2013 schedule.

RwandAirRwandair (WB) has implemented various modifications to its operations following the launch of its 2012/13 Northern Winter season schedule on 28 October 2012. 

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

► TANZANIA: fastjet announces initial domestic and regional routes.

fastjetfastjet has revealed its first routes to be served when it launches later this month. In an bizarre interview with with Linzie Janis on Bloomberg Television's "Countdown," fastjet CEO, Ed Winter, announced the first destinations to be Tanzania, Kenya, South Sudan, Uganda and Rwanda, though could not give an exact date for operations to start, as "all the necessary government approvals were not yet in place."

Friday, November 2, 2012

► RWANDA: Air Uganda introduces extra Saturday flight to Kigali.

Air Uganda
Air Uganda (U7) have announced an increase in their Entebbe, Uganda - Kigali, Rwanda flights effective immediately. The Bombardier CRJ-200ER operated flights will now fly daily with the addition of an extra Saturday frequency.

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

► RWANDA: See Pics of RwandAir's first CRJ-900NG arriving in Kigali!

RwandAirRwandan national carrier Rwandair (WB) has officially received its first of two Bombardier Canadair Regional Jet (CRJ) 900NGs (MSN# 15286 | 9XR-WH) following a hand-over ceremony in Montreal, Canada and a delivery flight routed Montréal - Goose Bay - Reykjavík - Ancona - Aswan - Kigali.


Monday, October 1, 2012

Sunday, September 16, 2012

► KENYA: Brussels Airlines cancels planned Mombasa route launch; increases Kigali frequency.

Brussels AirlinesOriginally planned to go ahead from 1 October via Nairobi, Belgian carrier, Brussels Airlines (SN), has announced it will not be launching once weekly flights to the Kenyan port town of Mombasa "due to administrative reasons".

Sunday, August 26, 2012

► RWANDA: RwandAir announces CRJ900 routes; introduces other additional frequencies.

RwandAirWith the first of its two new Bombardier CRJ900NGs (MSN# 15286| 9XR-WH) due in by the middle of October 2012 and the second due in mid November, so Rwandan national carrier RwandAir (WB) has outlined the future routes they will be used on, in addition to various new frequencies to come into effect from 31 October 2012.

RwandAir CRJ900 '9XR-WH'
RwandAir CRJ900 '9XR-WH'

RwandAir CRJ900NG Routes

RwandAir: Kigali, Rwanda – Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
-Effective 31 October 2012
  • WB440 KGL1730 – 2030DAR CR9 | 1234567
  • WB441 DAR2100 – 2200KGL CR9 | 1234567
Kigali, Rwanda – Entebbe, Uganda
-Effective 31 October 2012
  • WB422 KGL1440 – 1625EBB CR9 | 1234567
  • WB423 EBB1655 – 1640KGL CR9 | 1234567
Kigali, Rwanda – Nairobi, Kenya
-Effective 31 October 2012
  • WB404 KGL0155 – 0410NBO CR9 | 1234567
  • WB406 KGL1455 – 1710NBO CR9 | 1357
  • WB402 KGL1455 – 1710NBO CR9 | 246
  • WB405 NBO1155 – 1210KGL CR9 | 1234567
  • WB407 NBO2125 – 2140KGL CR9 | 1357
  • WB407 NBO2125 – 2140KGL CR9 | 246

Additionally, various new frequencies have been announced:
  • Entebbe, Uganda: from 17x to 33x weekly flights.
  • Brazzaville, Congo & Libreville, Gabon: 3x to 5x weekly flights.
  • Dubai, UAE : from 6x to 13x weekly flights.
  • Lagos, Nigeria: from 3x to 7x weekly flights.
  • Johannesburg, South Africa : from 8x to 10x weekly flights.

Kigali, Rwanda – Dubai
-Planned service increase from 6x weekly to daily. The daily service operates nonstop in both directions, replacing 3x weekly nonstop and 1-stop service via Mombasa, Kenya.
  • WB300 KGL0045 – 0830DXB 738 | 1234567
  • WB301 DXB0950 – 1335KGL 738 | 2467
  • WB301 DXB1010 – 1335KGL 738 | 2467
Kigali, Rwanda – Johannesburg, South Africa
-Planned service increase from 8 to 10 weekly
  • WB100 KGL0100 – 0500JNB 738 | 123567
  • WB100 KGL0100 – 0500JNB 735 | 4
  • WB102 KGL1445 – 1845JNB 738 | 356
  • WB101 JNB0800 – 1200KGL 738 | 123567
  • WB101 JNB0800 – 1200KGL 735 | 4
  • WB103 JNB1930 – 2330KGL 738 | 356
Kigali – Lagos, Nigeria
-Planned service increase from 3x weekly to daily
  • WB200 KGL1435 – 1745LOS 738 | 1234567
  • WB201 LOS1830 – 2340KGL 738 | 1234567
Source [Airline Route]

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

► SOUTH SUDAN: RwandAir rumoured to start Juba in November as Lagos goes daily from October.

Rwandair
Rwanda's national carrier Rwandair (WB) is rumoured to be considering flights to the South Sudanese capital of Juba after it receives its two Bombardier CRJ900s sometime in October or November of this year according to the usually reliable Wolfganghthome blog.
"From sources in Juba it is understood that the South Sudan capital may well be on the drawing board, either nonstop or via Entebbe, while a number of destinations South of Rwanda are said to be under intense scrutiny vis a vis viability, as is an added West African destination, either stand alone or in combination with the airlines flights to Lagos."

Rwandair's Route Network
Rwandair's Route Network
The African Aviation Tribune has already reported on another much anticipated Rwandair route: that of Lusaka, Zambia and Cape Town, South Africa, which too, should come into effect after the arrival of the new jets, thereby freeing up their Boeing 737-800s for longer, more fetching routes.

As always, we'll keep you updated on the latest developments.

Meanwhile, the Rwandan High Commissioner to Nigeria, Joseph Habineza, recently announced plans for the airline to start a daily Kigali - Lagos, Nigeria service effective October 2012, in addition to a cargo service. Rwandair currently serves Lagos from its Kigali hub three times weekly.
"Habineza at a forum with stakeholders in Lagos said, “We can easily go to Europe or America but traveling within Africa is pretty difficult. But we want to break this barrier. In October, we will start daily flight from Lagos to Kigali. From Kigali they can connect East and Southern Africa, Dubai and other parts of the world.” While adding that the cargo business would soon start, he said the routes expansion became necessary owing to increased traffic to Rwanda from Nigeria."

As Mr Habineza mentioned, Rwandair has indeed focussed its energies on expanding its African network over expanding into Europe and the US - certainly a very prudent move to take given Europe's stagnant economies - which, despite its false allure and prestige, has often been the bane of many African carriers and start ups.

Thursday, August 2, 2012

► RWANDA: RwandAir rumoured to start Lusaka and Cape Town "in November".

RwandAir
According to fellow blogger RwandanFlyer, Rwandan national airline Rwandair (WB) is set to launch flights from its hub in Kigali, Rwanda to Lusaka, Zambia and Cape Town, South Africa "sometime in November of this year", though no official confirmation has been made available as yet.

A RwandAir Ad that semi-officially confirms Lusaka & Cape Town.
A RwandAir Ad on Facebook.
It is said that the launch of the flights will coincide with "the arrival of RwandAir's two new Bombardier CRJ-900NGs in October, that will be used on other regional routes, thereby freeing up RwandAir's Boeing 737-800s for use to Lusaka and Cape Town."

RwandAir's Network [Click to enlarge]
RwandAir's Network
It is uncertain whether or not the carrier will be granted 5th Freedom rights to service the Lusaka - Cape Town sectors and vice-versa.

In October 2011, RwandAir signed an 'option deal' for two Boeing 787s for delivery in either 2015 or 2016. This should hopefully be the beginning of an audacious expansion plan that will see the airline going head to head with two major regional players: Ethiopian Airlines and Kenya Airways.

Stay tuned for further updates.


Friday, July 27, 2012

► TURKEY: Turkish Airlines announces changes to Africa Network for Winter 2012.

Turkish AirlinesTurkish carrier Turkish Airlines (TK) has announced various changes to its African network effective Q4 of 2012.

Turkish Airlines Africa Network
Turkish Airlines Africa Network



Istanbul – Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
-Effective 28 October 2012 service reduces from daily to 5x weekly using 737-900ER.
  • TK603 IST1910 – 0335+1DAR 739 x13
  • TK604 DAR0435 – 1050IST 739 x24
Istanbul – Nairobi, Kenya 

-Effective 28 October 2012 Boeing 737-800 replaces -900ER, daily service
  • TK607 IST1950 – 0325+1NBO 73H 1234567
  • TK608 NBO0445 – 1020IST 73H 1234567
Istanbul – Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt
-Effective 9 October 2012 NEW 4x weekly service to its 3rd destination in Egypt. Schedule below effective 28 October 2012.

  • TK700 IST0205 – 0440SSH 737 135
  • TK701 SSH0640 – 0925IST 737 135

Istanbul – Kigali, Rwanda – Entebbe, Uganda - Istanbul
- Effective 28 October 2012 service increases from 4x to 5x weekly using a 737-900ER
  • TK606 IST1840 – 0130+1KGL0225+1 – 0420+1EBB0520+1 – 1045+1IST 739 x27
Istanbul – Kinshasa, DRC
- Effective 27 September 2012 service increases from 4x to 5x weekly. Schedule below effective 28 October 2012.
  • TK671 IST1445 – 2115FIH 739 26
  • TK672 FIH2215 – 0630+1IST 739 26
Source [Airline Route]


Wednesday, May 16, 2012

► RWANDA: RwandAir orders Q400NG; adds Mwanza from July.

Following on from yesterday's conclusion of the Bombardier Q400NG Roadshow in Kigali, RwandAir has announced its intention to buy a Bombardier Q400NG turboprop, to replace its existing ageing fleet of Bombardier Dash 8s, which presently fly short routes from Kigali to Kamembe, Gisenyi, Bujumbura and onto new destination, Mwanza in Tanzania.

Bombardier Q400 NextGen Africa Tour
Bombardier Q400 NextGen Africa Tour

 "After a flight demonstration to Kamembe by the Bombardier team yesterday, RwandAir’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), John Mirenge, said that the move is part of the carrier’s expansion plans.“This is a good aircraft with new features and enough seating capacity,” he pointed out.       

The Sales Director for Bombardier Aerospace, Sameer Adam, said the 74 seat capacity aircraft has the ability to operate from shorter runways and deliver the quietest and most vibration free passenger cabin of any propeller driven aircraft.  He explained that the aircraft was designed to meet the requirements for high-density, short-haul services. "

Bombardier's aircraft appear to have become a hit with the Rwandan airline, as in March, they decided to replace their two CRJ-200 with two CRJ-900NGs to be delivered in October of this year.

In addition to the new aircraft, it was also announced that RwandAir would start a 3x weekly Kigali - Mwanza, Tanzania service using a Dash-8, with effect from 2 July 2012.

RwandAir: Kigali - Mwanza (from 2 July 2012)
  • WB401 KGL1115 – 1315MWZ DH8 136
  • WB402 MWZ1345 – 1345KGL DH8 136
Read More Here [Airline Route]

Thursday, May 10, 2012

► RWANDA: RwandAir increases flights to Tanzania from 10 June 2012. .

Rwanda Air
Rwandan carrier RwandAir (WB) has announced an increase in flights on Kigali-Kilimanjaro-Dar Es Salaam-Kigali from 4x weekly, to 6x weekly. with effect from 10 June 2012, using either a Boeing 737-500 or 800.

RwandAir: Kigali - Dar es Salaam - Kilimanjaro - Kigali (Monday)
  • WB 103     KGL : 12h20       DAR : 15h25       1       B737-500 / 800
  • WB 103     DAR : 16h10       JRO :  17h10       1       B737-500 / 800
  • WB 103     JRO : 17h55        KGL : 18h25       1       B737-500 / 800

RwandAir: Kigali - Dar es Salaam - Kilimanjaro - Kigali (Wednesday)
  • WB 103       KGL : 12h20      JRO : 14h50       3       B737-500 / 800
  • WB 103       JRO :  15h35      DAR : 16h35      3       B737-500 / 800
  • WB 103       DAR : 17h20      KGL  : 18h25     3       B737-500 / 800


Wednesday, May 9, 2012

► RWANDA: RwandAir increases flights to Johannesburg; introduces online booking and payments.

Rwandan carrier RwandAir(WB) has announced an increase in flights between Kigali and Johannesburg. In a statement via their Facebook account, the airline stated that they would be increasing their frequencies to Johannesburg to 8 weekly flights effective 10 June 2012. 

The four existing flights will be complemented by four night flights departing Kigali on Mon, Wed, Fri, Sun at 20:50 hrs and returning for Johannesburg on Mon, Tue, Thu, Sat at 01:30 hrs. 

In another development, Rwandair has also introduced online ticketing and payments for those living abroad that can’t access RwandAir's sales offices, in addition to making the booking process hastle-free for locals.