Statistics from Rwanda Civil Aviation Authority (RCAA) indicate there is a steady growth in passenger and cargo traffic at Kigali International Airport. The latest information suggests the trend will continue.
With the booming aviation business, revenue collection is also projected to double as more passengers use the airport and more aircrafts land and take off.
Rwanda Development Board (RDB) attributes the ‘booming’ aviation business in the country to the increasing number of conference visitors, gorilla tourists and business travellers.
Last year, Kigali International Airport registered 15 percent growth in passenger volume while this year Rwanda’s CAA projects to handle over 300,000 passengers.
The CAA projects to earn $ 8.9 million from services it offers in the aviation industry, up from about $ 6.3 million last year realised from handling charges, office space rent, packing and overlying fees.
“Our cargo traffic (exports and imports) have also grown tremendously. Our flights have also increased in value and volume,” Dr Richard Masozera, Director General of Rwanda Civil Aviation Authority said.
The steady growth in aviation business has forced the Rwanda government to expedite construction of a new airport which is expected to be ready for flights by 2014.
The planned New Bugesera International Airport (NBIA) located 48 kilometres south of the capital Kigali is designed to handle more planes, more cargo and thousands of more passengers annually.
Basing on the current volume of business, aviation engineers have designed a new airport to handle one million passengers and 150 million tonnes of cargo annually.
TPS, a UK engineering firm, submitted to government a design estimated at over $546 million. The money is expected to be raised through public and private partnership.
After looking at the final design, Eng. Linda Bihire, Rwanda ’s Infrastructure Minister, described the planned airport as ‘world standard.’
“The new facility (NBIA) is designed to handle a maximum throughput of 450 passengers per hour to serve a projected figure of one million passengers per year and 150 million tonnes of cargo annually in its first phase up to year 2025.
The subsequent phases will follow with high passenger and cargo capacities,” Bihire said in a statement.
According to the design, the new airport will have two runways to match the capacity of the largest world airports.
Minister Bihire is optimistic that with resources, Bugesera airport will develop over time into a central African hub airport serving as a transit point for several European, American and Asian airlines and providing connections to all parts of Africa .
The airport is also designed to provide leisure, hotels and conference facilities. It is also hoped a free trade zone will be created in the area which will spur economic development.
lare Akamanzi, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Rwanda Development Board said some investors have approached her over the project.
“It’s viable. Potential investors have already expressed interest in the project,” Akamanzi said.
She is in charge of services and business operations at Rwanda Development Board.
After completion, Bugesera will ease pressure on Kigali International Airport and position the country as an airline hub in central Africa.
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