This archive report was first published on 8 July 2019.
July 8, 2019
RwandAir, the national carrier of Rwanda, has taken a significant step to reduce its operational costs by partnering with Nexus, a Saudi Arabian aviation company, to establish a training academy in Kigali.
The academy, which is a joint venture between Nexus and Akagera Aviation Ltd, a government-owned company, will offer training in flight and aircraft maintenance, cabin crew, aircraft dispatchers, and ground services.
Under the new programme, RwandAir aims to train 376 aircraft engineers, 285 aircraft dispatchers, 500 personnel in ground services, and 500 cabin crew. This move is expected to help the airline reduce its reliance on expatriate pilots and cut costs associated with training pilots abroad.
According to the International Monetary Fund, RwandAir's debt ceiling of $500 million was breached last year after it exceeded its borrowing power by $87 million due to the lease for new aircraft. The airline has requested the IMF to raise its debt ceiling to $800 million to enable it to open new routes in Africa and create longer haul connections to Europe, America, and Asia.
Speaking about the new venture, Abdullah Al-Sayed, the chairman of Nexus, said that the company is in the initial stages of the venture and cannot discuss the size of the investment. However, he assured that the board will decide on the required investment in an upcoming meeting.
Yvonne Manzi Makolo, the CEO of RwandAir, said that the airline's expansion plans will require additional pilots, and training them at home will help cut costs. She added that training pilots locally will go a long way in helping the company to grow and make profits.
