Bugesera International Airport construction expected to hit 70 percent by end of this year

President Paul Kagame has said that the construction of Bugesera International Airport in Rwanda is progressing well stating that it is anticipated to reach 70% completion by the end of 2023.

Speaking at the 3rd Qatar Economic Forum in Doha, Kagame addressed the partnership between Rwanda and Qatar, including their investments in RwandAir and the ongoing construction of Bugesera International Airport.

He emphasized the progress made through negotiations and the implementation of agreed plans, expressing the need to expedite the construction process for a prompt operational launch.

"We have done all that with negotiations and we are actually implementing what we agreed. We are partnering in the airline but we are also in the airport that we are jointly investing in. The work is in progress, we have gone a long way, we are just trying to speed it up to make sure that we are ready up and running in a short time," President Kagame noted.

President Kagame also provided insight into the anticipated development by the end of this year, stating, "The airline is very strong already and is growing very fast. The airport, maybe, we should be around 70%. I guess next year, in the third or fourth quarter, we shall see things standing and going."

Bugesera International Airport project, with an estimated cost of US$2 billion, aims to position Rwanda as a hub for tourism, investment, and other services on the African continent.

Qatar Airways will hold a 60% stake in the airport and has recently announced plans to acquire 49% shares in RwandAir.

Once completed, the airport will cover an area of 130,000 square kilometers and have the capacity to accommodate at least 8 million passengers per year during its first phase.

The subsequent phase will further expand the capacity to accommodate 14 million passengers and handle 150 tonnes of cargo annually.

The initial completion date for the first phase, originally set for 2022, underwent changes due to master plan redesigns and construction delays caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

PM