KIGALI - The new CRJ200 aircraft for Rwanda’s national carrier Rwandair is expected to arrive in the country today morning.

According to the airline, the arrival of the aircraft is part of Rwandair’s contingency plans to acquire its own two aircrafts using the $40m (Rwf22.8bn) loan that they recently acquired from a regional bank. 

The loan was secured from the Eastern and Southern African Trade and Development Bank (PTA) and will be serviced by the company within a period of 10 years.

In a recent interview, Rwandair Chief Executive, Gerald Zirimwabagabo, told The New Times that the acquisition was a huge milestone for the carrier and the country as a whole as it gives confidence to their clients.

He also said that it was the beginning of the company’s growth.

The national carrier last month terminated its contract with JetLink; a Kenyan based company, after one of it leased aircraft crashed at Kigali International Airport leaving one passenger dead.

The aircraft was reportedly experiencing mechanical problems and it was one of the two 50-sitter CRJ planes from JetLink.

The carrier is also in negotiations to acquire two more planes; a Boeing 737 and a Boeing 800 series with a capacity to carry between 130 and 160 passengers.

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