Qatar Airways Cargo’s chief officer, Guillaume Halleux, and Yvonne Makolo, chief executive of RwandAir officially launched operations on the Kigali Africa Hub. Photo: Qatar Airways Cargo
Qatar Airways Cargo has launched a Kigali, Rwanda cargo hub in partnership with RwandAir.
That is the carrier’s first cargo hub outside Qatar and shall be serviced by a Boeing 777 freighter from Doha twice every week.
Since March, Qatar Airways Cargo has operated an intra-Africa service between Kigali and Lagos 3 times per week, and a weekly service from Istanbul via Doha to Kigali, all operated by an Airbus A310 aircraft.
has requested confirmation from Qatar Airways Cargo on whether the Airbus A310 was flying as a passenger or all cargo aircraft.
Latest destinations from Kigali shall be announced soon, said Qatar Airways Cargo.
Within the run-up to the Kigali cargo hub launch, QAS Cargo, a subsidiary of Qatar Airways, provided consultancy support to RwandAir Cargo to assist improve its cargo handling performance.
A team from QAS Cargo visited the cargo handling facilities and presented RwandAir with an in depth motion plan for operational improvements and handling performance.
The team is now working together on a future roadmap, including a proposed improvement plan for its warehouse infrastructure, which can form a part of a long-term strategic plan for the cargo division of RwandAir.
Guillaume Halleux, chief officer cargo at Qatar Airways, said: “Africa is one in every of the world’s fastest-growing economies, yet for it to develop to its full potential requires investment in logistics infrastructures.
“Qatar and Rwanda have long-enjoyed bilateral trade agreements, with each Qatar Airways and Qatar Investment Authority having previously invested in Kigali International Airport and RwandAir.
“It was, subsequently, a logical step that Qatar Airways Cargo supports RwandAir in its cargo ambitions. Our customers will profit from each a reliable intra-African network through our Kigali hub, in addition to enhanced service levels and price synergies.
“We’re proud to partner with RwandAir in establishing Kigali because the Central African hub in preparation for the Next Generation of air cargo on this fast-growing continent.”
Qatar Airways Cargo currently serves 28 cities in Africa with a combination of freighter and bellyhold services, carrying as much as 2,800 tonnes to and from Africa.