RwandAir to fly to Brussels from July 2017

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RwandAir to fly to Brussels from July 2017

Post by sn26567 »

RwandAir could make its Asian and European début during the financial years 2016/2017 and 2017/2018, respectively, according to maverick CEO John Mirenge. Speaking to the local press following the presentation of the airline's five-year strategic plan to government, Mirenge said that possible destinations in the Far East could include Shanghai Pudong, Guangzhou, and Beijing Capital.

"We are considering a Mumbai Int'l flight soon. We also hope that European flights will commence in the 2017/2018 fiscal year, though we are yet to zero in on specific destinations," he told Rwanda's New Times.

Mirenge added that to facilitate its long haul plans, RwandAir is expected to acquire wide body planes with a seating capacity of up to 200 people in the later part of 2016 financial year.

According to the ch-aviation aircraft database, the Rwandan national carrier has orders with Boeing for two B787-8s - 9XR-WM (msn 35507) and 9XR-WN (msn 35508). The two airframes are the so-called "Terrible Teen" models relinquished by Royal Air Maroc (AT, Casablanca Int'l) in 2012 in favour of later hulls.

Source: ch-aviation
More: http://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/news/ ... 16-onwards
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Re: Will RwandAir fly to Brussels from 2017-18?

Post by sn26567 »

Interesting article (as always) from CAPA about the ambitions of RwandAir:

http://centreforaviation.com/analysis/r ... 017-202148

Highlights:
  • A modern fleet (4.2 years average) comprising 2 B737-700s, 2 B737-800s, 2 CRJ900ERs and 1 Q400
  • An option for two B787s, but also the possibility to lease them from a leasing company
  • Aim to fly to Mumbai, one destination in China and one in Europe (Brussels?) from 2017
  • Network from 15 African destinations (with 5th freedom rights) + Dubai, with little competition
  • 6 new African destinations, plus one domestic route for a total of 23 destinations, in 2015
And a word of caution: "Rwanda and RwandAir will have to be sensitive to how foreign carriers – including existing partners such as Brussels Airlines and potential future partners – could be impacted by RwandAir’s own long-haul plans."
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Re: Will RwandAir fly to Brussels from 2017-18?

Post by rwandan-flyer »

RwandAir website confirmed it. Flights will start, from July 2017, 3 times a week. In an another article, RwandAir commercial director said that bookings should be open, before the end of the week.
Nous prévoyons de commencer les vols d’ici la mi-juillet et nous distribuerons nos services aux agences de voyage d’ici la fin de cette semaine », a indiqué un porte-parole de RwandAir, Mikael Gobena, par courriel à l’agence Belga.
https://afrique.lalibre.be/4851/rwanda- ... um=twitter

Image
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Re: Will RwandAir fly to Brussels from 2017-18?

Post by rwandan-flyer »

RwandAir to start flights to Brussels Airport in July 2017

Kigali – 14th June, 2017. RwandAir the national carrier of the Republic of Rwanda is pleased to announce the commencement of non-stop flights from Kigali to Brussels, in Belgium next month. All returning flights from Brussels to Kigali will be via London.

With the new three flights a week between Brussels and Kigali, Rwanda’s capital, which will be operated by the airline’s Airbus A330 fleet configured in a triple class cabin and equipped with inflight connectivity, RwandAir offers a differentiated product in terms of passenger comfort and convenience.

Brussels, Belgium’s fascinating capital and the administrative capital of the European Union, is mainly known for centuries of history, renaissance architecture and monuments. The city’s main attractions include the Grand-Place, an UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Bronzed Manneken-Pis and admirable green spaces such as the “Parc du Cinquantenaire”, Belgian Independence Monument.

“Adding Brussels to our fast growing network, reaffirms our commitment to create new
opportunities for both continents with smooth connections from cities with high demand and will go a long way in boosting trade and tourism”, said Chance Ndagano, the Acting Chief Executive Officer of RwandAir.

The launch of flights to Brussels comes after the airline’s successful entry into the London market last month (May). The new route takes RwandAir’s network to twenty-three (23) destinations.
https://rwandair.com/media-center/news- ... -july-2017
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Re: Will RwandAir fly to Brussels from 2017-18?

Post by Boeing767copilot »

Exactly: via London

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Re: Will RwandAir fly to Brussels from 2017-18?

Post by sn26567 »

rwandan-flyer wrote: 14 Jun 2017, 20:43 RwandAir to start flights to Brussels Airport in July 2017
Merci Rwandan-Flyer.

Do you have an indication on what will happen to the current codeshare with Brussels Airlines on BRU-KGL-BRU?

I have the feeling that with SN, KL, RwandAir and TK there will soon be overcapacity on the routes between Rwanda and Europe.
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Re: Will RwandAir fly to Brussels from 2017-18?

Post by sn26567 »

pitrixplanespotting wrote: 14 Jun 2017, 21:19 time to change topic-name ?
Yes ;)
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Re: Will RwandAir fly to Brussels from 2017?

Post by Bel33 »

Why not an agreement between Rwandair and SN with 3/3 flights codeshared /week allowing to SN to open a new route like Lagos, Libreville or... back to Nairobi/Mombasa (TC destination...)

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Re: Will RwandAir fly to Brussels from 2017?

Post by CTBke »

Bel33 wrote: 14 Jun 2017, 22:36 Why not an agreement between Rwandair and SN with 3/3 flights codeshared /week allowing to SN to open a new route like Lagos, Libreville or... back to Nairobi/Mombasa (TC destination...)
If Bru Air plays it well they could extend their offer to KGL through a codeshare with Rwandair and have a spare aircraft for other routings. But they wanna be the Africa expert and sole option out of BRU... so wait and see what they'll do ..
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Re: Will RwandAir fly to Brussels from 2017?

Post by rwandan-flyer »

a new route like Lagos, Libreville or... back to Nairobi/Mombasa (TC destination...)
Those routes are already served by RwandAir. Some of them have night flights, so you can arrive to Kigali, with Brussels Airlines and then fly to Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania or Burundi with RwandAir.

You can back to Brussels, with Brussels Airlines evening flight, from Kigali. Most of RwandAir flights from West, Central, East and Southern Africa, arrive between 20h and 21h and then you leave KGL, at around 23h with Brussels Airlines. And you arrive on the morning at Brussels, to get flights across Europe and to North America.

You can arrive at Kigali, with RwandAir, early in the morning to get connecting flights to East, Central, West and Southern Africa, which leave Kigali between 8h30 and 9h00.

RwandAir flights will probably arrive in the begining of the evening (around 18h-19h), enabling connecting flights on Brussels Airlines European flights, as well as others Star Alliance airlines (Swiss, SAS, Lufthansa, which serve BRU).
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Re: Will RwandAir fly to Brussels from 2017?

Post by nordikcam »

rwandan-flyer wrote: 15 Jun 2017, 13:56
RwandAir flights will probably arrive in the begining of the evening (around 18h-19h), enabling connecting flights on Brussels Airlines European flights, as well as others Star Alliance airlines (Swiss, SAS, Lufthansa, which serve BRU).
Can we imagine the same schedule as that of London currently. Departure noon from Kigali and arrival BRU around 18H - 19H00. Departure 20H for London and Kigali? What will SN's reaction be to this sudden competition?

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Re: Will RwandAir fly to Brussels from 2017?

Post by rwandan-flyer »

Can we imagine the same schedule as that of London currently. Departure noon from Kigali and arrival BRU around 18H - 19H00. Departure 20H for London and Kigali? What will SN's reaction be to this sudden competition?
Good question, i just know that stop over at Brussels, will last 50 mins (Kigali-Brussels-London-Kigali). I won't be suprised to see the RwandAir flight leaving Kigali around 10.00 a.m, due to stop over at BRU. It will reduce connecting time at Kigali, for early morning arrivals (Johannesburg, Nairobi, Entebbe, Kilimanjaro, Dar Es Salaam, Mombasa, Lusaka, Harare and depending days Libreville, Brazzaville, Abidjan, Douala, Dubai and Mumbai, if you love long trip^^)

About SN, i hope that both airlines will keep working, because thanks to SN and its Star Alliance patners, RwandAir will get access to many destinations from and to Brussels.

Maybe we will see a partnership, like KLM & Kenya Airways on the Amsterdam-Nairobi route. Both airlines use Amsterdam and Nairobi hubs, to provide the highest number of connecting fligts in Africa, Europe and to and North America (with KLM & Delta).
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Re: Will RwandAir fly to Brussels from 2017?

Post by SabenaForever »

The flights are uploaded in the booking system:

Code: Select all

WB700 KGL1005 – 1835BRU 332 245
WB700 BRU1945 – 0730KGL 332 245
Some notes: the same flightnumber for the inbound and outbound flight? And in the bookingsystem they put EBB (Entebbe) as a stop on the return flight!?

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Re: Will RwandAir fly to Brussels from 2017?

Post by b.lufthansa »

SabenaForever wrote: 16 Jun 2017, 14:54 The flights are uploaded in the booking system:

WB700 KGL1005 – 1835BRU 332 245
WB700 BRU1945 – 0730KGL 332 245

Some notes: the same flightnumber for the inbound and outbound flight? And in the bookingsystem they put EBB (Entebbe) as a stop on the return flight!?
it is a stupid and sudden decision to start flights to Brussels.

Why would you stop a codeshare with a solid airline to go into direct competition with?

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Re: Will RwandAir fly to Brussels from 2017?

Post by convair »

SabenaForever wrote: 16 Jun 2017, 14:54 The flights are uploaded in the booking system:

WB700 KGL1005 – 1835BRU 332 245
WB700 BRU1945 – 0730KGL 332 245

Some notes: the same flightnumber for the inbound and outbound flight? And in the bookingsystem they put EBB (Entebbe) as a stop on the return flight!?
The same flight number seems to confirm it is a triangular flight. KGL-BRU is 8h30 duration; BRU-KGL is 11h45, which indeed indicates there is a stopover somewhere. And the 3h15 difference could be the time it takes to fly BRU-London, allowing for a good 2 hours stop in London. How long does it take to fill up the tank? ;)

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Re: Will RwandAir fly to Brussels from 2017?

Post by convair »

b.lufthansa wrote: 16 Jun 2017, 15:29
SabenaForever wrote: 16 Jun 2017, 14:54 The flights are uploaded in the booking system:

WB700 KGL1005 – 1835BRU 332 245
WB700 BRU1945 – 0730KGL 332 245

Some notes: the same flightnumber for the inbound and outbound flight? And in the bookingsystem they put EBB (Entebbe) as a stop on the return flight!?
it is a stupid and sudden decision to start flights to Brussels.

Why would you stop a codeshare with a solid airline to go into direct competition with?
It seems indeed a bit stupid and potentially detrimental to both airlines. Did WB try to increase the cooperation with SN and found SN reluctant? And is WB now trying to twist SN's arm by showing that it means business?

Btw, I checked their site: flight WB700 leaving BRU at 1945 is supposed to reach LGW at 2000 and depart LGW at 2130 to reach KGL at 0730.

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Re: Will RwandAir fly to Brussels from 2017?

Post by Poiu »

b.lufthansa wrote: 16 Jun 2017, 15:29
it is a stupid and sudden decision to start flights to Brussels.

Why would you stop a codeshare with a solid airline to go into direct competition with?
How many flights can each airline operate according to the bilateral agreement?
I have a feeling SN is currently operating some of WB's flights and could be forced to reduce their number of flights.

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Re: Will RwandAir fly to Brussels from 2017?

Post by rwandan-flyer »

La compagnie belge a indiqué mardi avoir des sentiments mitigés face à l'ouverture de cette liaison entre la Belgique et le Rwanda - que RwandAir est en droit d'opérer en vertu des accords aéronautiques bilatéraux.
"The Belgian company said Tuesday had mixed feelings about the opening of this link between Belgium and Rwanda - that RwandAir is entitled to operate under the bilateral aeronautical agreements"

https://www.rtbf.be/info/economie/detai ... id=9633152

June 2011:
It’s projected that 2011 will see more air-traffic increase with the amended and fresh Bilateral Air service Agreements (BASAs).

Interested countries include; Belgium, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Singapore, Egypt and The Netherlands.
http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/s ... clnk&gl=uk
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