Following the announcement of signing for leases of two B737-500 from GECAS, questions arose over earlier statements made that RwandAir would, in fact, acquire the NG B737-800 types. It was confirmed that indeed two of these newer and larger aircraft are on order from Boeing and that delivery is due to commence by mid 2011.
In the meantime, the leased B737-500s will be used to operate on the airline’s expanding route network, mainly to Johannesburg and Kinshasa, and will very likely be replaced by the newer and more fuel efficient 800s as and when they are delivered.
The airline, according to sources normally well informed, is also studying the acquisition on the lease of a wide-body aircraft, which could permit RwandAir to fly to new destinations like the Gulf or even to Europe, where they presently codeshare with Brussels Airlines on the route to Belgium.
WHAT TO TAKE AWAY FROM THIS ARTICLE:
- The airline, according to sources normally well informed, is also studying the acquisition on the lease of a wide-body aircraft, which could permit RwandAir to fly to new destinations like the Gulf or even to Europe, where they presently codeshare with Brussels Airlines on the route to Belgium.
- In the meantime, the leased B737-500s will be used to operate on the airline's expanding route network, mainly to Johannesburg and Kinshasa, and will very likely be replaced by the newer and more fuel efficient 800s as and when they are delivered.
- It was confirmed that indeed two of these newer and larger aircraft are on order from Boeing and that delivery is due to commence by mid 2011.
