RwandAir and Qatar Airways Cargo Partnership Launches Kigali as the Central African Hub for Air Cargo

On Wednesday, Qatar's cargo plane arrived in Rwanda carrying 100 tons of cargo, marking the official launch of its flights to Rwanda and its future plans to expand to other African destinations. This move is expected to make Rwanda the hub of air cargo in Africa.

Yvonne Makolo, the CEO of RwandAir, expressed her appreciation for the partnership and recognized its effectiveness in supporting cargo transportation in Rwanda and Africa. "We are very proud to partner with Qatar Airways Cargo to launch today the brand-new Kigali Cargo Hub, which will open up new cargo opportunities across Africa," she stated.

Guillaume Halleux, Qatar Airways’ Chief Officer Cargo, emphasized the importance of investing in logistics and infrastructure to support Africa's fast-growing economies. "Our customers will benefit from both a reliable intra-African network through our Kigali hub, as well as enhanced service levels and cost synergies. We are proud to partner with RwandAir in establishing Kigali as the Central African hub in preparation for the Next Generation of air cargo on this fast-growing continent," he added.

Overseas business operators have welcomed the partnership, as it will help them expand their operations. The partnership between RwandAir and Qatar Airways Cargo will initially cover 10 African countries, with more destinations to be added as the market expands. Another recent cargo plane from RwandAir has already led to an increase in exports by overseas traders.

Jesca MUTAMBA