The aviation industry is primed for further boost when refurbishment of Kamembe Airport in Western Province is completed.

The Rwf5.1 billion works that start in November will see the airport’s runway extended to 2.2 kilometres from 1.5 kilometres to accommodate big aircrafts, as well as help decongest the airport, Tony Barigye, the Rwanda Civil Aviation Authority (RCAA) communications manager, said.

The refurbishment, officials said, will help spur tourism as well as .ease inland travel and enhance passenger safety

"Among the reasons for expanding the capacity of the airport is to facilitate tourism, which is one of the main income earners for the country by making upcountry tourist sites easily accessible,” Barigye told The New Times last week.

"Also, as a landlocked country with ever improving economy, it is only right that the country transforms air transport to facilitate growth.”

China Road and Bridge Corporation Company has been contracted to undertake the six-month project.

Barigye said although the actual works will begin in November, site installation is expected to begin next month.

The works involve resurfacing the runway, upgrading the taxiway, apron and airfield marking to make the airport secure and attractive.

The supervisory part of the project will be by STUDI, a Tunisian company in partnership with Gasabo 3D Limited, and is expected to cost about $495,000 (about Rwf349 million), according to RCAA.

RwandAir halts flights

According to economists, the project could in the short-term affect both aviation and tourism business, but ultimately become more profitable in the long run.

RwandAir, the national carrier, has already announced temporary suspension of flights to and from Kamembe Airport effective November 1, to pave way for the refurbishment.

"RwandAir treats the safety of its passengers and employees as its absolute top priority and safety is never compromised under any circumstances. We will work to resume normal service and to accommodate our customers,” John Mirenge, the RwandAir chief executive, said in a statement issued last week.

Osborn Kinene, the Rwanda Ecotours country manager, said the repairs could affect the tour and travel business in the short-term.

"While it’s important to upgrade the airport, there is no doubt that the project will greatly impact negatively the tourism sector in the short-term, especially those heavily relying on aircraft to move tourists to that part of the country,” Kanene said.

"However, the upgrades will deliver immense benefits in the future.”

Growing traffic

The recent surge in the number of airlines and flights as the country continued to grow in leaps and bounds put RCCA under pressure to devise measures to improve aviation infrastructure, which prompted the upgrades at the Kigali International Airport and decision to construct Bugesera International Airport.

Up to $17 million was spent on expansion works at the Kigali International Airport, according to officials.

The project, expected to be completed later this month, will see terminal gates increase from current two to six. The airport runway will also expand from current a 3.5 kilometres to 4.2 kilometres.

This is expected to help accommodate the growing number of aircraft plying the Kigali route as well as passenger traffic.

The government plans to use part of the proceeds from its second Eurobond, worth $1 billion, to be issued next year in the construction of Bugesera International Airport.

Kamembe Airport was previously an international facility that served flights to and from DR Congo and Burundi and other destinations before it was rundown by the times.

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