Our Correspondent | Africa Guardian
A new airport in Rwanda, costing £1.6 billion to construct, is poised to become a major hub for travel, business, and trade in Africa. Scheduled for completion by 2026, the airport, located 40 kilometers from the capital Kigali, aims to significantly enhance Africa’s connectivity and economic opportunities.
A Landmark Investment for Africa’s Aviation
Once operational, the airport will feature a sprawling 130,000-square-meter main terminal designed to handle 8 million passengers annually, with projections to reach over 14 million in the coming decades. The facility will also include a cargo terminal capable of processing 150,000 tons of cargo annually, reports CNN.
Upgrading Rwanda’s Infrastructure
The new airport will serve as a major upgrade to Kigali International Airport, which currently handles the region’s air traffic. The development is seen as a crucial step toward positioning Rwanda as a leading center for air travel in Africa.
Jules Ndenga, CEO of Aviation Travel and Logistics Holding, the government-owned entity overseeing the project, expressed his excitement: “I’m amazed. It’s like a dream come true to see the impact and magnitude of this project on the population. We’re excited to see it completed and operational.”
Empowering Africa’s Connectivity
Rwanda, a landlocked nation, aims to use the airport to establish itself as a strategic aviation hub. The airport is expected to address the continent’s connectivity challenges, providing more accessible routes and fostering growth in tourism, trade, and business.
RwandAir CEO Yvonne Manzi Makolo noted that connectivity remains the “biggest challenge” for Africa’s aviation industry. “The continent is huge and vast, but traveling within it is difficult, unpredictable, and extremely expensive,” she said. The new airport aims to tackle these issues by expanding routes and implementing measures to improve the travel experience for Africans.
With the launch of this state-of-the-art facility, Rwanda is set to play a key role in transforming Africa’s aviation landscape and unlocking the continent’s full potential.
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