RWANDAIR SET TO MAKE ROUTES ANNOUNCEMENTS WHEN NEW CRJ900S ARRIVE
Regular sources close to Rwandas national airline RwandAir have given the clearest indication yet that once the two ordered Bombardier CRJ900 jets have been delivered, thought to take place in October or latest November this year, the airline will almost immediately announce an increase in frequencies to key destinations in the East African region but also additional routes, as the longer distance Boeing 737s can be freed from flying the present core routes and be re-deployed to new destinations.
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.
There is also now increased speculation over the announcement of additional aircraft purchases, either through lease or outright ownership and the two B737-500 aircraft, leased from GECAS, are also rumoured to be due for replacement with larger and more modern versions of the short and medium haul jets, as passenger numbers keep growing way above industry average and demand for travel to and from Rwanda has in recent years rocketed.
Next in line for purchase though appears a new turboprop aircraft, with Bombardier being the frontrunners after showcasing their Q400 aircraft in Rwanda three months ago and doing a demonstration flight for pilots and management of the airline.
In a related development are also announcements expected about the timelines of the planned Bugesera International Airport which is due to open in 2016 and will bolster the connectivity of the country by allowing larger wide body jets to fly to the Land of a Thousand Hills. Watch this space to capture announcements as and when they are made, and at times even ahead of the official release.
