www.rwandan-flyer.com

 RwandAir Q400NG first pictures

Updated on 30/01/2014

RwandAir announces the  delivery date and destinations  for its Dash Q400NG

Updated on 20/12/2013

Today RwandAir announced that, its Bombardier Q400NG will arrive on 24 February 2014. It will be mainly deployed on Kamembe (Rwanda), Bujumbura (Buundi), Entebbe (Uganda), Dar Es Salaam & Kilimanjaro (Tanzania), Libreville (Gabon) and Brazzaville (Republic Of Congo).

Configuration : 7 in Buisness and 60 in Economy

You can read more informations about RwandAir Dash Q400 : HERE

RwandAir orders a Dash Q400 to replace the Dash 200

22/04/2013

Last year, Bombardier made a promotional visit in Rwanda, with a flight between Kigali and Kamembe.

Photos : HERE

Article : HERE

Statement from RwandAir :

Bombardier Aerospace and RwandAir of Kigali, Rwanda announced today that RwandAir has signed a firm purchase agreement for one Q400 NextGen turboprop airliner. Based on the list price of the Q400 NextGenaircraft, the order is valued at approximately $33 million US.

“As demand for domestic and regional travel in Africa accelerates, our 67-seat, dual-class Q400 NextGenaircraft will ensure RwandAir is well positioned to offer increased capacity on popular routes that are being opened and serviced with our 37-seat Bombardier Dash 8-200 aircraft,” said John Mirenge, Chief Executive Officer, RwandAir. “The Q400 NextGenturboprop is the right aircraft to develop our domestic and regional market and to firmly support RwandAir on our path towards growth 
and increased profitability.

We are also complementing our new dual-class Bombardier CRJ900 NextGen regional jets by offering similar cabin amenities on the Q400 NextGenaircraft, providing for a seamless passenger service between the two aircraft models and aligning our total fleet strategy towards a unified passenger experience. We are developing the RwandAir brand and we are gaining momentum in the region through selection of the right aircraft and right services for our growing market.”

“As one of our newest and fast-growing customers, RwandAir is serving Africa’s expanding domestic and international markets and we are delighted that the carrier has yet again chosen Bombardier aircraft to further develop its network of short- and medium-haul destinations,” said Mike Arcamone, President, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft. “The Q400 NextGenturboprop has proven its capability and flexibility in many regions of the world and is operating in diverse environments. We anticipate that it will serve RwandAir and its customers very well.” RwandAir will become the 12th operator of Q400 and Q400 NextGenaircraft in Africa, and its Q400 NextGen aircraft will join more than 40 Q400and Q400 NextGenaircraft that are already in service with, or have been ordered by, 11 operators in nine countries in Africa

.

With the transaction announced today, Bombardier has taken firm orders for 468 Q400and Q400 NextGenaircraft. Worldwide,Q400 and Q400 NextGenaircraft have transported more than 243 million passengers and have logged over 3.8 million flight hours and more than 4.1 million take-offs and landings in service with more than 40 operators in over 30 countries on five continents.

The Bombardier DashQ400 Next Generation to visit Rwanda

The Dash Q400 which used for the African tour is now (14 MAY 2012) at Kigali. It has operated a special flight between Kigali and Kamembe (Rwanda), for various test, because the Rwanda CAA is upgrading the airport.  On the second pix, we can see Girma Wake (below the turbopop) the new RwandAir’s CEO.

Since 2002, RwandAir leased several Bombardier Dash 8s. On the left, this one is used since 2010, and on the right this aircraft has been used from 2002 to 2004.  Note : the picture on the right was taken in 2001, one year before the collaspe of SA Alliance Express Rwanda (parent of the Alliance Air Group).

03/05/2012

Since yesterday, Bombardier started an African tour (see the map on this page) to showcase the potential of its Dash Q400NG . This tour will include static display and test flights with airline executives and medias.

Since the begining of the year, Bombardier has recorded two orders from African airlines. Ethiopian Airline has ordered 5 Q400NGs, some of them will be used by Asky, the Lome based airline. Ethiopian Airline uses 8 Q400NGs and plans to take delivery of a Q400 simulator.

RwandAir ordered in March 2012, two CRJ-900NGs with two in options. They will replace the CRJ-200LR. The airline will take delivery of the two birds in September 2012 and in October 2012.  In its 2020 Vision, RwandAir wants to upgrade its regional fleet, to cope with a dramatic growth of its passenger traffic on this market. On some routes (Kamembe, Entebbe or Bujumbura), the Dash 8 -100 is becoming too little to meet the demand.

However, like for the CRJ-900NG which was in competition with ERJ-190, RwandAir won’t give an immediate answer. The airline is also evaluating the potential of the ATR 72-600. So maybe a delegation from ATR will come to Rwanda, in the coming month…

Dakar Senegal 2 MAY

Accra Ghana    4 MAY

Maputo Mozambique 7 MAY

Gaborone Botswana  8 MAY

Dar Es Salaam Tanzania 10 MAY

Nairobi Kenya 11 MAY

Kigali Rwanda  14 MAY

African Q400 operators (May 2012) :