► SOUTH SUDAN: (Pics) Rwandair begins its 3x weekly Kigali - Juba service.

Rwanda's national carrier, Rwandair (WB), launched its long awaited flights to the South Sudanese capital, Juba with its maiden flight on Saturday, September 21, 2013. The 3x weekly flights operate on-board a CRJ900.

► RWANDA: Air Uganda, RwandAir sign codeshare deal.

Air Uganda (U7) and RwandAir (WB) yesterday signed a code-share agreement which, effective immediately, covers the Entebbe - Kigali route and will provide travellers with an increased choice of flights between the two cities. The signing ceremony took place at Kigali International Airport and was officiated by Mr. Cornwell Muleya, the CEO of Air Uganda  and Mr. John Mirenge , the CEO of RwandAir. 

►► SOUTH SUDAN: Rwandair postpones Juba flights 'til September.

[UPDATE 06 AUGUST] Rwandan national carrier, Rwandair (WB), will from 01JUL13 begin operations to South Sudan, with a 3x weekly Kigali – Juba service, on board CRJ900 aircraft.

► RWANDA: Rwandair still eyes 17+ aircraft by 2015 with plans to further boost African coverage this year.

On the occasion of his airline taking delivery of its second B737-700 (MSN 30726 | 9XR-WK) on Friday 28 June, RwandAir's (WB) maverick CEO, John Mirenge, says he still plans to increase the fleet to at least seventeen aircraft by 2015 with plans to add "several African, Asian and Latin American countries" to its network.

► FLEET UPDATE BULLETIN: Rwandair, FirstNation Airways, GEASA Guinea Ecuatorial Airlines, Libyan Airlines, Senegalese Air Force, Dana Air.

The following is a fleet update bulletin for aircraft that are in use, have been in use or will be in use for these listed airlines: FirstNation Airways Nigeria (FRN), Libyan Airlines (LN), Rwandair (WB), GEASA Guinea Ecuatorial, the Senegalese Air Force, Dana Air Nigeria (9J).

► FLEET UPDATE BULLETIN: Rwandair, Haajara Airline, AeroContractors, SA Express, Afriqiyah, Kush Air, Skyward International, Tunisair.

The following is a fleet update bulletin for aircraft that are in use, have been in use or will be in use for these listed airlines: Rwandair, Haajara Airline, AeroContractors, SA Express, Afriqiyah, Kush Air, Skyward International, Tunisair.

● IATA: Who said what during IATA's recently ended 69th AGM.

As the 69th International Air Transport Association's Annual General Meeting came to a close on Tuesday in Cape Town, South Africa, many a speech and promise was made by various industry heavyweights (both African and international), politicians and analysts. Herein lies a brief summary of the more interesting, relevant bits.

■ RWANDA: Government planning to bring forward Rwandair's IPO to this year?

Rwanda is expecting to float two state-owned companies, the Commercial Bank of Rwanda (BCR) and national carrier, RwandAir (WB), on the country's fledgling stock market soon, the head of Rwanda's Capital Market Authority (CMA), Robert Mathu has said.

► RWANDA: Rwandair announces further changes to its Summer 2013 schedule.

AirlineRoute reports that as per the 23APR13 GDS timetable and inventory display, Rwandan national carrier, Rwandair (WB), will further revise its planned operation for Summer 2013 season, effective 01JUN13. 

► RWANDA: RwandAir signs up for one dual-class Bombardier Q400NG.

Fresh from their latest fleet upgrade, Rwandan national carrier, RwandAir (WB), has announced the signing of a firm purchase agreement with Canada's Bombardier Aerospace for one Q400 NextGen turboprop airliner. The Q400 will be used to replace the airline's current older Dash8-200 used to ply domestic and close regional routes.

► RWANDA: (Pics) Rwandair's first B737-700NG touches down in Kigali.

Rwandair's first B737-700 (MSN: 30717 | 9XR-WJ) has finally arrived in Kigali where it is expected to commence operations between Kigali via Brazzaville and Libreville to Douala as well as to Johannesburg and Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta International.

■■ RWANDA: (Pics) A look at Kigali's proposed New Bugesera International Airport.

New Bugesera International Airport, Kigali, Rwanda

[UPDATE 14 APRIL] After the horrific aftermath of the genocide of 1994, Rwanda's economy has risen from the ashes to become one of Africa's most dynamic and fastest growing, registering at least 8 percent GDP growth in the past 5 years, with 6.9% growth projected for 2013. As part of its Vision 2020, amongst whose aims is to transform the country from a subsistence-farming based economy into a middle-income (>USD900/month) services hub, the Rwandan Government has moved to develop a vibrant private sector by investing in Roads, Rail and water transport infrastructure with the ultimate aim of dramatically reducing the cost of transport to businesses and individuals. Of the several large infrastructure projects proposed, the most economically far reaching is a new airport, Bugesera International Airport, to be built outside of the capital, Kigali.

► RWANDA: Rwandair announces further Summer 2013 schedule changes.

Following on from our previous post, Rwandair (WB) will, according to the 08APR13 GDS timetable and inventory display, adjust a number of its operations from 01JUN13 in preparation for the Summer 2013 season.

► RWANDA: Rwandair outlines new Accra via Lagos and Douala via Brazzaville, Libreville ops.

Rwandan national carrier, RwandAir (WB) has outlined its planned Kigali - Accra and Kigali - Brazzaville - Libreville - Douala services due to launch in June. According to Amadeus, Accra flights will operate 3x weekly via Lagos, Nigeria with Rwandair obtaining 5th Freedom rights between Lagos and Accra. Douala flights will operate 4x weekly.

► NETHERLANDS: See Pic of Rwandair's first 737-700 fresh out the paint shop!

Rwandan national carrier, Rwandair's (WB), first of two Boeing 737-700NGs (MSN: 30717 | 9XR-WJ) (ex D-AHXB) leased from the  International Leasing Finance Corporation, has come out of the paint shop in Eindhoven, Netherlands.

► GHANA: RwandAir announces Douala, Accra, Juba as next destinations to come in June/July.

With the imminent arrival of the first of two Boeing 737-700NGs, replacing the airline's Boeing 737-500s whose leases expire mid year, Rwandair (WB) has announced that Douala and Accra will be the airline's next new destinations from 1 June 2013.

■ RWANDA: Government finalizing plans for $350mln bond issuance of which RwandAir will be major benefactor.

The Rwandan Government is finalizing plans for the issuance of a sovereign bond aimed at raising "about USD350million (RWF222billion)", part of which will be used to prop up national carrier Rwandair (WB) in whom government has a 99% shareholding.

► RWANDA: Rwandair's first B737-700NG due in two weeks time.

Rwanda's national carrier Rwandair (WB) is set to receive its first Boeing 737-700 leased from the International Leasing Finance Corporation, in the coming weeks.

► RWANDA: RwandAir to adjust Johannesburg, Mombasa, Dubai ops for N. Summer 2013.

According to AirlineRoute, as per the 14MAR13 GDS timetable and inventory display, Rwandair (WB)’s planned Summer 2013 operation will change as follows, with additional changes possible.

■ RWANDA: Netherlands, Rwanda sign Air Services Agreement.

Rwanda 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.