The Chief Executive Officer of Aviation and Travel Logistics (ATL), Jules Ndenga, has outlined Rwanda’s aviation roadmap and goals as well as huge business opportunities presented by Rwanda's new aviation hub. The new hub is centred on the New Kigali International Airport under construction in Bugesera, a satellite city which is close to Kigali. ATL is a holding company established by the government of Rwanda in 2015 with the mission of managing aviation related activities including travel, logistics, ground, freight and cargo handling, as well as charter services. It has five subsidiary companies namely RwandAir, the national airline, Rwanda Airports Company, the airport management company, Akagera Aviation, the general aviation and training entity, Rwanda Tours and Events, the flagship of the tourism sector, and Rwanda Links Logistics, a cargo and freight handling firm. Delivering a speech titled “Designing the Future for Rwanda’s New Hub, at the 2025 Aviation Africa Summit, on September 4, Ndenga said that with strategic partnerships, infrastructure investments, and a commitment to sustainability and skills development, Rwanda is now charting an ambitious flight path toward becoming Africa’s premier aviation hub and a global model for integrated, future-ready air transport systems. ALSO READ: Ten things we know about the Rwanda-Qatar Airways deal He said Vision 2050 charts an even more ambitious path whereby Rwanda aims to become an upper-middle-income country by 2035, and a high-income country by 2050, and aviation is no longer simply about ensuring connectivity – “it is about becoming a major driver of our national GDP.” To achieve this, he stated, several strategic initiatives are already underway. This includes increasing RwandAir’s fleet size over the next five years, expanding frequencies, modernising its fleet, and elevating its service to 4-star standards. “These goals are reinforced by sustainable growth and strengthened by our strategic partnership with Qatar Airways,” he said. “This partnership extends beyond the skies. Together with the State of Qatar, Rwanda is investing more than $2 billion in a state-of-the-art new Kigali International Airport, just a few kilometres from our capital. This facility will deliver world-class services both in the air and on the ground, while also generating significant revenues for our economy.” With this new hub, he said, the country aims to grow annual passenger traffic capacity from 1.2 million currently to 8 million within 10 years, and to triple cargo volumes to 150,000 tonnes for the same period. It is expected that the airport -- under costruction in Bugesera -- will be completed in 2028. “The opportunities are immense: modern aircraft maintenance, high-quality catering, retail and duty-free, logistics, fuel services – all these industries will flourish around the airport ecosystem. By 2028, travellers will arrive not just in Kigali, but in a dynamic Airport City – yet another engine of Rwanda’s growth,” Ndenga said. As the country pursues this vision, he said that sustainability remains central and its sector regulator – the Rwanda Civil Aviation Authority – continues to safeguard safety and security in a complex global environment, keeping an “impressive” low level of incidents over the years and successfully meeting all international audits. “Looking to the future, we are also committed to building Africa’s first green airport, while investing in our greatest Rwanda asset – our people,” he stated. To that end, he said, Akagera Aviation is building a $55 million Aviation Academy, supported by the Government of Rwanda, the African Development Bank, and the OPEC Fund. This academy will equip young Rwandans and Africans with the critical skills needed – pilots, engineers, cabin crew, air traffic controllers, and more – ensuring job creation and long-term growth for the sector. Kigali, Ndenga said, is now firmly positioned as a hub for tourism and for the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) industry. Aviation has been the catalyst for this achievement, fulfilling the Vision 2020 objective of building a regional hub, with the national airline RwandAir connecting Kigali to destinations across Africa, Europe, and Asia. He highlighted the link between Rwanda’s economy and its aviation sector – anchored by RwandAir and by the Rwanda Airports Company.
