Rwandan airline RwandAir is the latest regional carrier to challenge Kenya Airways and Ethiopian Airlines for African airline supremacy.
Whereas Ethiopian is well ahead with 105 international destinations and deserved bragging rights as the airline that flies to the most African destinations, RwandAir showed the fastest growth of the three in 2019.
Last year it sealed off its performance with a route tally of 29.
And with Qatar Airways having bought a 49% stake in the airline, its Ebitda figures (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortisation) are solid, according to a spokesman.
Kenya Airways, in comparison, is battling to lift its finance.
Its 55 destinations could also be surpassed by its nearest rival if RwandAir’s growth continues.
That steep curve upwards now also seems secured by 101 Bilateral Aviation Safety Agreements (Basa) that have been signed with various countries in a bid to rapidly accumulate more routes.
RwandAir CEO Yvonne Makolo told The East African: “The Basa agreements give us flexibility and ease the process of starting new routes.”
