The
main objective of the airport is to become in 2004
the main sub-hub of the region. Obviously, the central
location of Rwanda within the Great Lakes region
is an advantage to the country, but what will be
the factors that will enable the airport to reach
its objectives?
That is a vision that we have
established for the airport as we feel the potential
is there. First because of our geographical location.
Second we have to have to face the problem of
being a landlocked country and the fact that ground
connections are not very efficient. So, we feel
we have to develop air transportation as an alternative.
But, in order to achieve this objective, we need
to upgrade our services in order to become as
competitive as our neighbors. So, the drive is
there, the support from the government is there
and the challenge is now to provide services that
will attract operators. Of course, we are starting
from a disadvantaging position because of the
heavy destructions of facilities and equipment
we faced during the war. But we are strongly determined
to bring our services up to international standards.
So, we want airlines operating this region to
use Kigali International Airport as their main
getaway to the region. In that end, we have secure
a loan from the European Investment Bank also
supported by a grant from the European Development
Fund. Both amount to a total of 19 million Euros
and the Airport Authorities will invest 2 million
Euros. Those funds will be directed towards improving
infrastructure, re-surface the runaway, update
the lighting, build a new tax way and navigation
equipment.
What is your time frame for
the completion for this project?
We have already started with the
replacement of some of the navigation and communication
equipment. We have mandated a French Engineering
consulting company to prepare a tender document
and by January 2003, works will actually start
for a two-year period during which we will continue
our operations of course. So, once we are through
with the project, we will definitely offer competitive
services and hope it will attract more operators,
especially from the cargo sector for example.
If you look at our location, we are closer to
eastern Congo, southern Uganda, western Zaire
than those regions are from their respective international
airports. So, with the border control relaxed
within the framework of the East African Community
we feel we can provide better services than our
competitors in the region, even with Bujumbura.
Can you describe with a few
figures the importance of the airport activity
in terms of traffic, number of passengers per
annum, aircraft movements?
We have 285 employees, a number
of passengers of approximately 130,000. In terms
of aircraft movements, we have around 11,000 per
annum. Cargos are close to 5,000 tons.
Sabena, which used to operate direct flights from
Brussels to Kigali went bankrupt last year and
stopped their activities for a few month. But
this had a very small impact on our business as
Kenya Airways and Ethiopian Airlines increased
their flight frequency. Of course, it was not
convenient for passengers coming from Europe who
had to stop in Nairobi or Addis Ababa, but today
Sabena has been replaced by Brussels Airlines
and has restarted operating direct flights, and
we are very happy about it. However, our revenues
remain relatively small: around USD 5 million.
But we are financially self sufficient, we do
not get any subsidies from the government.
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As we mention Brussels Airline
reopening its route to Kigali, do you have projects
to open new routes in future with other airline
companies?
There are two freight cargos interested
in operating flights to Kigali. Also, Alliance
Express Rwanda is studying the possibility to
operate with British Airways direct flights to
Kigali. Otherwise, we have a few other operators
such as South African Airways, Air Burundi.
When we established the Rwanda Airport Authority
it was more like a parastatal organisation as
we had to answer to the Minister. But the government
has decided to set up a Civil Aviation Authority.
International civil aviation experts have just
completed the study and they recommend having
this new authority managed by a CEO who will have
to answer to a board of directors. So, it would
operate autonomously. Those experts propose that
the airport's operations come under the CAA.
In the medium run, do you plan
to extend your infrastructure through the creation
of an export-processing zone?
We are currently looking into
this project in order to improve our cargo services.
We unfortunately don't have the funds available
now but this at the top of our priority list and
we are in discussion with the African Development
Bank. It is important for us to increase our cargo
services as the cargo companies operating are
increasing their flights. We have Martin Air,
KenCargo, MK Airlines. We know the potential and
those operators would not be increasing their
frequencies if there were no business.
Peronally, how would you envision
the image and activity of your airport within
five years time?
I would like to see more operators,
more aircrafts movements. Once our facilities
get upgraded, we should be able to increase our
aircraft movements by 30%. Also, the government
is focusing on developing ICT in the country as
well as providing highly skilled people to the
various sectors of the economy, and we should
obviously benefit from this progress.
Also, can you tell more about
your main professional achievements and personal
challenges over the next few months?
My whole career has been related
to aviation. I started in aircraft technology.
Then I worked in Egypt, in Canada and then I moved
to various positions as an engineer, technical
representative supporting global fleets. This
gave me the opportunity to travel a lot, especially
in Europe. In fact, my family fled from Rwanda
when I was eleven years old. But, after the war
in '94, I felt I had to come back to my country
and participate in its reconstruction. So, I got
appointed here in '99 in order to raise the airport
up to international standards and create a civil
aviation authority. Those are my two main goals
and once we manage to achieve them, I would feel
that I brought a tangible contribution to improving
civil aviation in Rwanda and to the reconstruction
of my country.
NB : Winne shall not be responsible
for unedited transcriptions
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