Air Rwanda
Encyclopedia
Société Nationale des Transports Aériens du Rwanda, or Air Rwanda as the airline
was commonly known, was the national airline of Rwanda
, with its base at Kigali International Airport
in Kigali
.
to Gisenyi
, Kamembe, Bujumbura
and Ostend
. Other services were also operated to Tanzania
, Uganda
and Zaire
, along with a scheduled cargo flight from Bujumbura to Mombasa
in Kenya
. A fleet comprising one Boeing 707
, two de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter
s and one Piper Aztec
was operated on these routes. The airline would also occasionally lease a Britten-Norman Islander
for operations from the Rwandan Air Force. The airline was implicated in a mooted deal with Libya
, under which the Libyans would paint Boeing
aircraft belonging to Libyan Arab Airlines
in Air Rwanda livery. The purpose of the deal was to allow the Libyans to skirt an embargo and to gain access to spare parts for the aircraft. The possible deal came to light when the United States
gained photos of some Libyan aircraft being repainted in Air Rwanda livery, after which the Rwandans cancelled talks with the Libyans.
In 1994, the airline was forced to cease flying to domestic destinations because of the Rwandan Genocide
, whilst internationally the airline reduced its network to include only Kigali, Bujumbura and Entebbe
. In 1996, the airline was renamed to Rwanda Air and its fleet consisted only of the Boeing 707. By this time its network had increased to include Gisenyi, Kamembe, Bujumbura, Ostend, Dar es Salaam
, Entebbe and Kinshasa
.
In November 1997, it was announced that Alliance Express, the regional arm of multi-national Uganda
-based airline SA Alliance Air, had reached a deal with the Rwandan government to take over the operations of Rwanda Air, after which it would operate as Alliance Express Rwanda from 1 March 1998. The new airline would operate on routes from Kigali to Entebbe, Kinshasa
, Johannesburg
and Nairobi
with Boeing 737-200 equipment. The government continued to hold a majority 51% share in the airline, with Alliance Air taking a 49% stake. The airline began operations to Bujumbura in neighbouring Burundi
on 8 February 1999. In its first year of operations Alliance Express Rwanda posted a US$4 million operating loss on US$6 million revenues, which the airline blamed on its inability to operate flights to the Democratic Republic of the Congo
due to the Second Congo War
. A dispute between Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, according to the airlines' deputy managing director, meant the Kigali-Lubumbashi
-Kinshasa route could not be developed. By this time, the airline was also operating a Bombardier Dash 8 in addition to the 737. After the Ugandan-based SA Alliance Air ceased operations in October 2000, the Rwandan government entered into an agreement with South African Airways
to ensure the Rwandan subsidiary would continue to operate. Operations continued until the company was eventually wound up on 30 November 2002 and its operations taken over by Rwandair Express, later to be rebranded as RwandAir
.
Airline
An airline provides air transport services for traveling passengers and freight. Airlines lease or own their aircraft with which to supply these services and may form partnerships or alliances with other airlines for mutual benefit...
was commonly known, was the national airline of Rwanda
Rwanda
Rwanda or , officially the Republic of Rwanda , is a country in central and eastern Africa with a population of approximately 11.4 million . Rwanda is located a few degrees south of the Equator, and is bordered by Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo...
, with its base at Kigali International Airport
Kigali International Airport
Kigali International Airport , formerly known as Gregoire Kayibanda International Airport, but sometimes referred to as Kanombe International Airport, is the primary airport serving Kigali, the capital of Rwanda...
in Kigali
Kigali
Kigali, population 965,398 , is the capital and largest city of Rwanda. It is situated near the geographic centre of the nation, and has been the economic, cultural, and transport hub of Rwanda since it became capital at independence in 1962. The main residence and offices of the President of...
.
History
Air Rwanda founded by the government of Rwanda on 15 July 1975 as the national airline of Rwanda. The airline began operations on domestic flights and to neighbouring nations, with a network including flights from KigaliKigali
Kigali, population 965,398 , is the capital and largest city of Rwanda. It is situated near the geographic centre of the nation, and has been the economic, cultural, and transport hub of Rwanda since it became capital at independence in 1962. The main residence and offices of the President of...
to Gisenyi
Gisenyi
Gisenyi is a city in Rubavu district in the Western Province of Rwanda. Gisenyi is contiguous with Goma, the city across the border in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The population of the city is about 106 000 .-Description:...
, Kamembe, Bujumbura
Bujumbura
-Education:The University of Burundi is located in Bujumbura.Hope Africa University is located in BujumburaUniversité du Lac Tanganyika is located in Bujumbura-External links:**...
and Ostend
Ostend
Ostend is a Belgian city and municipality located in the Flemish province of West Flanders. It comprises the boroughs of Mariakerke , Stene and Zandvoorde, and the city of Ostend proper – the largest on the Belgian coast....
. Other services were also operated to Tanzania
Tanzania
The United Republic of Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.Tanzania is a state...
, Uganda
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
and Zaire
Zaire
The Republic of Zaire was the name of the present Democratic Republic of the Congo between 27 October 1971 and 17 May 1997. The name of Zaire derives from the , itself an adaptation of the Kongo word nzere or nzadi, or "the river that swallows all rivers".-Self-proclaimed Father of the Nation:In...
, along with a scheduled cargo flight from Bujumbura to Mombasa
Mombasa
Mombasa is the second-largest city in Kenya. Lying next to the Indian Ocean, it has a major port and an international airport. The city also serves as the centre of the coastal tourism industry....
in Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
. A fleet comprising one Boeing 707
Boeing 707
The Boeing 707 is a four-engine narrow-body commercial passenger jet airliner developed by Boeing in the early 1950s. Its name is most commonly pronounced as "Seven Oh Seven". The first airline to operate the 707 was Pan American World Airways, inaugurating the type's first commercial flight on...
, two de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter
De Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter
The DHC-6 Twin Otter is a Canadian 19-passenger STOL utility aircraft developed by de Havilland Canada and currently produced by Viking Air. The aircraft's fixed tricycle undercarriage, STOL abilities and high rate of climb have made it a successful cargo, regional passenger airliner and MEDEVAC...
s and one Piper Aztec
Piper Aztec
-Accidents and incidents:*On 18 April 1974, Aztec G-AYDE was involved in a ground collision with BAC One-Eleven G-AXMJ at London Luton Airport after the pilot of the Aztec entered the active runway without clearance. He was killed and his passenger was injured...
was operated on these routes. The airline would also occasionally lease a Britten-Norman Islander
Britten-Norman Islander
The Britten-Norman BN-2 Islander is a 1960s British light utility aircraft, regional airliner and cargo aircraft designed and originally manufactured by Britten-Norman of the United Kingdom. The Islander is one of the best-selling commercial aircraft types produced in Europe. Although designed in...
for operations from the Rwandan Air Force. The airline was implicated in a mooted deal with Libya
Libya
Libya is an African country in the Maghreb region of North Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west....
, under which the Libyans would paint Boeing
Boeing
The Boeing Company is an American multinational aerospace and defense corporation, founded in 1916 by William E. Boeing in Seattle, Washington. Boeing has expanded over the years, merging with McDonnell Douglas in 1997. Boeing Corporate headquarters has been in Chicago, Illinois since 2001...
aircraft belonging to Libyan Arab Airlines
Libyan Arab Airlines
Libyan Airlines , known as Libyan Arab Airlines over several decades, is the national flag carrier airline of Libya. Based in Tripoli, it operates scheduled passenger and cargo services within Libya and to Europe, North Africa and the Middle East, the majority of which leave from Tripoli...
in Air Rwanda livery. The purpose of the deal was to allow the Libyans to skirt an embargo and to gain access to spare parts for the aircraft. The possible deal came to light when the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
gained photos of some Libyan aircraft being repainted in Air Rwanda livery, after which the Rwandans cancelled talks with the Libyans.
In 1994, the airline was forced to cease flying to domestic destinations because of the Rwandan Genocide
Rwandan Genocide
The Rwandan Genocide was the 1994 mass murder of an estimated 800,000 people in the small East African nation of Rwanda. Over the course of approximately 100 days through mid-July, over 500,000 people were killed, according to a Human Rights Watch estimate...
, whilst internationally the airline reduced its network to include only Kigali, Bujumbura and Entebbe
Entebbe
Entebbe is a major town in Central Uganda. Located on a Lake Victoria peninsula, the town was at one time, the seat of government for the Protectorate of Uganda, prior to Independence in 1962...
. In 1996, the airline was renamed to Rwanda Air and its fleet consisted only of the Boeing 707. By this time its network had increased to include Gisenyi, Kamembe, Bujumbura, Ostend, Dar es Salaam
Dar es Salaam
Dar es Salaam , formerly Mzizima, is the largest city in Tanzania. It is also the country's richest city and a regionally important economic centre. Dar es Salaam is actually an administrative province within Tanzania, and consists of three local government areas or administrative districts: ...
, Entebbe and Kinshasa
Kinshasa
Kinshasa is the capital and largest city of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The city is located on the Congo River....
.
In November 1997, it was announced that Alliance Express, the regional arm of multi-national Uganda
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
-based airline SA Alliance Air, had reached a deal with the Rwandan government to take over the operations of Rwanda Air, after which it would operate as Alliance Express Rwanda from 1 March 1998. The new airline would operate on routes from Kigali to Entebbe, Kinshasa
Kinshasa
Kinshasa is the capital and largest city of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The city is located on the Congo River....
, Johannesburg
Johannesburg
Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
and Nairobi
Nairobi
Nairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The city and its surrounding area also forms the Nairobi County. The name "Nairobi" comes from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nyirobi, which translates to "the place of cool waters". However, it is popularly known as the "Green City in the Sun" and is...
with Boeing 737-200 equipment. The government continued to hold a majority 51% share in the airline, with Alliance Air taking a 49% stake. The airline began operations to Bujumbura in neighbouring Burundi
Burundi
Burundi , officially the Republic of Burundi , is a landlocked country in the Great Lakes region of Eastern Africa bordered by Rwanda to the north, Tanzania to the east and south, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west. Its capital is Bujumbura...
on 8 February 1999. In its first year of operations Alliance Express Rwanda posted a US$4 million operating loss on US$6 million revenues, which the airline blamed on its inability to operate flights to the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a state located in Central Africa. It is the second largest country in Africa by area and the eleventh largest in the world...
due to the Second Congo War
Second Congo War
The Second Congo War, also known as Coltan War and the Great War of Africa, began in August 1998 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo , and officially ended in July 2003 when the Transitional Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo took power; however, hostilities continue to this...
. A dispute between Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, according to the airlines' deputy managing director, meant the Kigali-Lubumbashi
Lubumbashi
Lubumbashi is the second largest city in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, second only to the nation's capital Kinshasa, and the hub of the southeastern part of the country. The copper-mining city serves as the capital of the relatively prosperous Katanga Province, lying near the Zambian border...
-Kinshasa route could not be developed. By this time, the airline was also operating a Bombardier Dash 8 in addition to the 737. After the Ugandan-based SA Alliance Air ceased operations in October 2000, the Rwandan government entered into an agreement with South African Airways
South African Airways
South African Airways is the national flag carrier and largest airline of South Africa, with headquarters in Airways Park on the grounds of OR Tambo International Airport in Kempton Park, Ekurhuleni, Gauteng. The airline flies to 36 destinations worldwide from its hub at OR Tambo International...
to ensure the Rwandan subsidiary would continue to operate. Operations continued until the company was eventually wound up on 30 November 2002 and its operations taken over by Rwandair Express, later to be rebranded as RwandAir
RwandAir
RwandAir is an airline with its head office on the grounds of Kigali International Airport in Kigali, Rwanda. It is the national carrier operating services to East Africa, Central Africa, West Africa, Southern Africa and the Middle East.-History:...
.