Qatar Airways, RwandAir sign interline agreement

August 03, 2021: Qatar Airways has signed a new partnership with Rwanda’s flag carrier, RwandAir via their hubs at Doha and Kigali.

As a part of the strategic partnership, the extensive interline agreement will give customers access to the networks of both airlines. 

Akbar Al-Baker, Qatar Airways Group chief executive, said, “Africa is a hugely important market for us and this latest partnership will help support the recovery of international air travel and offer unrivalled connectivity to and from a number of new African destinations.”

Yvonne Makolo, RwandAir CEO, said, “We’re really excited to be opening up more of the world to our customers through the new interline agreement with Qatar Airways. Delivering excellent customer experience is key for us and we know that any travelers flying with Qatar Airways or RwandAir, as part of the agreement, will continue to receive the same unrivalled level of service they’re used to from both airlines.”

RwandAir operates services throughout Africa and to long-haul destinations including London Heathrow, from its Kigali-based hub.

Qatar Airways serves Kigali from Doha five times per week via Entebbe, utilising its sustainable and fuel-efficient Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft. The airline’s customers can transit via Kigali to a diverse range of African destinations including Bujumbura, Brazzaville and Libreville.  

Since February this year, the Rwandan government was in negotiation with Qatar Airways over the sale of a 49 percent stake in RwandAir.

In 2019, Qatar Airways agreed to take a 60 percent stake in a new $1.3 billion Bugesera International Airport in Rwanda. The new airport is being redesigned to accommodate 7 million passengers per year, which is located about 25 kilometres southeast of Kigali. Phase II expected to accommodate 14 million passengers a year, will commence operation by 2032.