Flights to Kamembe airport are set to resume in July 2015 following the rehabilitation of the airport’s run way, Rwanda Civil Aviation Authority has said.

So far, 60% of the work has been done with the rest of the project expected to be completed by the end of July, Tony Barigye, RCAA’s communication manager told The New Times, yesterday "We are saying July because work started in January and is supposed to take six months; and we have already notified all airlines using the airport about the new developments,” Barigye said.

Gobena Mikael, RwandAir’s General Manager in charge of commerce, confirmed receiving this notification and has since passed it on to the airline customers.

"We have been advised by the Rwandan Civil Aviation Authority that works will be completed by the end of June, 2015 which therefore means that our flights to and from Kamembe may resume as early as July 2015 as soon as works on the runway are completed,” said Gobena.

Kamembe airport was closed in November 2014 for renovations of the airport’s runway.

According to experts and sector players, RCAA must ensure that work is done according to the schedule because any delays may greatly impact on the aviation industry.

The renovation works are expected to cost about Rwf5.1 billion. When completed, the airport will be able to accommodate big aircrafts, as well as help decongest the airport.

China Road and Bridge Corporation Company was last year contracted to undertake the six-month project under the supervision of STUDI, a Tunisian company in partnership with Gasabo 3D Limited.

The works involve resurfacing the runway, upgrading the taxiway, apron and airfield marking to make the airport secure and attractive.

Once complete, the airport will play a big role in boosting the country’s tourism sector, according to sector experts.

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