Kigali, 17th November, 2016 RwandAir acquired Africa’s first Boeing 737-800 Next Generation that the national flag carrier hopes will boost its capacity and competitiveness around the globe.

The brand new airplane, given the local monicker ‘Kalisimbi, is expected to facilitate the airline’s expansion drive and it is more reliable, fuel efficiency and high-value returns in terms of operations in the competitive market. RwandAir becomes the first airline in Africa and second globally to acquire a Boeing 737-800NG equipped with in-flight connectivity on a line-fit programme, including WiFi.

The 154-seater aircraft is a dual- class cabin configuration and identical to the two Boeing 737-800NG with the first Boeing Sky Interior in Africa purchased six years ago. The 737 delivers the aircraft’s exceptional versatility and lower maintenance and operating costs provide a competitive edge regardless of business model or market.

The plane is expected to enhance RwandAir’s capacity to compete profitably in what has become rather a competitive business. The design of newest passenger cabin ensures a flying experience that exceeds expectations, RwandAir CEO, John Mirenge said.

According to Dr Alexis Nzahabwanimana, the State Minister for transport, the new acquired Boeing will help RwandAir expand its flight coverage to Europe, Asia and the US more efficiently. The Government identified aviation as a key pillar of Rwanda’s economic development. The acquisition of the new Boeing airline will boost trade and tourism regionally and on the global scene.

In December 2015, RwandAir signed a lease agreement with Aircraft Lease Corporation, an American based lessor to acquire two brand new Boeing 737-800 Next Generation. The next 737 (Muhabura) is expected to be delivered in May next year.

“The proven operating economics and passenger comfort make the aircraft, the right equipment to deploy on our medium haul flights and as we continue to expand our network, we are delighted to offer Wi-Fi fully connected aircrafts to serve today’s sophisticated traveler,” Mirenge noted.

RwandAir’s fleet now grows to 10 aircrafts and its capacity in terms of seats will double with the acquisition of the fourth B737-800NG and its second A330. The airline obtained its ISAGO (IATA safety audit for ground operations) certification in addition to the IOSA (IATA Operational Safety Audit) certificate.

The expansion of the fleet comes at a time when the airline is preparing to start flights to Gatwick, London’s second-busiest airport next year and is also eyeing the American market in the course of 2017.

In recent months, the airline has launched as well flights to Cotonou in Benin and Abidjan in Ivory Coast to bring the total number of destinations to 19. The airline is also set to open routes to Harare in Zimbabwe and Mumbai, India in coming days.

Others include Nairobi, Entebbe, Mombasa, Bujumbura, Lusaka, Juba, Douala, Dar es Salaam, Kilimanjaro, Cotonou, Johannesburg, Dubai, Lagos, Libreville and Brazzaville.

Based on projections, the airline’s capacity could grow from the current 500,000 passengers annually to more than 3,000,000 in the next five years.

Given that now RwandAir is IOSA certified, the globally-recognized and accepted evaluation certification confirms that the airline’s operational management and control systems meet international civil aviation safety and other standards.