RwandAir has said that it will acquire a Boeing aircraft through a dry-lease in the second quarter of this year, to cater for its planned frequent flights on the Kigali-Johannesburg route during the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

The deal means that RwandAir will acquire the 737 Boeing without insurance, crew, ground staff, supporting equipment, maintenance as well as other operational expenses on the aircraft.

The national carrier had planned to purchase two Boeing aircrafts this year in its ambitious plan of amassing a fleet of six aircrafts by 2012. In December last year the airline purchased its first CRJ200 aircraft.

Michael Otieno, RwandAir’s Marketing and Corporate Communications Manager told Business Times on Tuesday that two 737-800 Boeing aircrafts will be delivered in June 2011.

"Both teams (RwandAir and Boeing) are working on configuration issues,” he said.

The carrier is currently undergoing major reforms including acquisition of its own fleet, staff recruitments and opening up new routes.

RwandAir is also firming up its plans to add Kinshasa to its summer 2010 schedule set to be released in April 2010.
The airline says that the 2hr 45minutes flight to the DRC capital is expected to give a direct connection to travellers between Kinshasa and Kigali.

These developments have come a week after the national carrier had resumed daily flights to the south-west town of Kamembe, Rusizi district as it continues to beef-up its network.

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