Rwanda Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has recorded an increase of passengers. The body which oversees and regulates the aviation industry in Rwanda has also said that it anticipates an increase in flights.

while commenting on the recent statistics by Cheapflight, a UK based travel advisory company that indicated that Rwanda is one of its top favoured three destinations in Africa, CAA Director General Dr. Richard Masozera told Business Times that, the nod could be attributed to the fact that existing airlines are also feeding other international carriers to and from Rwanda.

Information from the company’s website indicates that, flights to Rwanda rose by 47 percent. Nicaragua and China were the travel advisory’s top destinations with flights increasing by 36 percent 144 percent respectively.

"We are pleased with the figures of the current growth in passenger increase, and are hopeful that the trend will continue throughout 2010,” Masozera said.

However Masozera said he could not reveal the projections for 2010 adding that they would be decided by the end of this month.

He added that in the last three years Rwanda’s air transport stood at 20 percent of passengers and 35 percent cargo of annual growth. While there was a projected growth of 23 percent in 2009, last year it dropped by 2 percent.

CAA also attributed the increase to the improved investment environment, confidence in leadership, security and quality tourism.

"A now stabilised Rwanda offers visitors beaches and mountains to explore, including the gorillas,” the Cheapflight report read in part.

Rwanda is benefiting from increased inflow of air traffic particularly from USA, the UK, Japan, Germany and the East Africa Community.

Rwanda Civil Aviation Authority is a public institution in charge of internal and external travels with respect to the rules and regulations of International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

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