International Air Transport Association CEO and director-general Tony Tyler. Picture: TREVOR SAMSON
EMERGING African airlines will have to be extremely cost conscious even though air travel is important for economic growth, RwandAir CEO John Mirenge says.
Speaking at a press briefing during an International Air Transport Association (Iata) general meeting on Monday, Mr Mirenge said Rwanda, a landlocked country that is one of the continent’s smallest, had identified air transport as a key driver of its economic growth.
"We (RwandAir) only started three years ago and we are slowly moving into a definite market of the short and regional flights before looking at long-haul destinations," he said.
Mr Mirenge said Rwanda was rebuilding its international airport in Kigali with the aim of making it a hub for regional African flights.
"We are in the heart of Africa and almost every other African country is between three and four hours’ flight time from Kigali," he said.
This, Mr Mirenge said, dictated the purchase of smaller, narrow-bodied aircraft that could operate efficiently, taking between 50 and 120 passengers a trip.
RwandAir operates seven aircraft, all various models of Canadian manufacturer Bombardier Aerospace — the third-largest manufacturer of passenger aircraft after Boeing in the US and Airbus in Europe.
Bombardier Aerospace vice-president for Africa and Middle East sales Raphael Haddad said his company expected Africa to be a market for about 1,000 commercial aircraft in the next 20 years.
"We are seeing great growth and there is a definite opportunity for expansion within Africa as trade among African countries grows," he said.
Mr Haddad said many African passengers still had to connect to neighbouring countries by flying long-haul flights to connect via Europe rather than direct flights that would be cheaper.
"So there is a definite need and market for a number of regional jet and turboprop aircraft," he said.
