Bugesera International Airport

Bugesera International Airport (IATA: n/a, ICAO: n/a) is an airport under construction in Rwanda.[1][2][3]

Bugesera International Airport
Summary
Airport typePublic, Civilian
OwnerRwanda Civil Aviation Authority
ServesKigali, Rwanda
LocationKigali, Rwanda
Elevation AMSL4,600 ft / 1,400 m
Coordinates02°08′09″S 30°11′00″E
Map
Bugesera
Approximate location within Rwanda
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
13,800 4,206 Paved

Location

Bugesera Airport is located in southeastern Rwanda, in Bugesera District, near the town of Rilima.[4] This location is approximately 25 kilometres (16 mi), by air, and about 40 kilometres (25 mi), by road, south of Kigali International Airport.[5] The approximate coordinates of Bugesera International Airport are: 02°08'09.0"S, 30°11'00.0"E (Latitude:-2.135833; Longitude:30.183333).[6] Bugesera International Airport is situated at an altitude of 1,400 metres (4,593 ft) above sea level.[7]

Overview

Bugesera International Airport will become Rwanda's largest International Airport, serving commercial flights destined to and from the greater Kigali metropolitan area.[8] When completed, it will become Rwanda's third International Airport, and the country's 8th airport overall. It will complement Kigali International Airport, which is now operating at maximum capacity.[3][8]

The airport will initially have a single paved runway. During the second phase of construction, a second runway will be added. The estimated cost for Phase I is US$418 million, while Phase II is budgeted to cost US$382 million, for a total of US$800 million. It was anticipated that Phase I will be completed in 2018.[9] The British engineering firm, TPS Consult Plc., was commissioned to carry out a feasibility study and design the new airport. Subsequent phases will follow with higher passenger and cargo capacities. In November 2010, press reports indicated that the Rwanda government had retained the International accounting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers, to provide financial advice and lead the search for funding of the project. The government wants to develop Bugesera Airport as a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) project.[3][10]

In December 2019, Qatar Airways agreed to take a 60 percent stake in the airport. As per the Rwanda Development Board, first phase of construction would provide facilities for seven million passengers a year. And, the second phase, which is expected to be completed by 2032, would increase the capacity to 14 million passengers a year.[11][12]

Construction

In September 2016, the government of Rwanda signed a binding agreement with Mota-Engil of Portugal to fund, build and operate the new airport for 25 years under concession from the government, with the contract renewable for an additional 15 years. Mota-Engil agreed to provide the $418 million to fund the first phase of construction. Commercial operations were expected to begin in 2018.[9]

In August 2017, construction began.[1] The projected cost is now US$828 million. Mota-Engil, through its subsidiary Mota-Engil Africa is the main contractor and is providing 75 percent of the funding. The Rwandan company called Aviation Travel and Logistics (ATL), is providing the remaining 25 percent of the funding. ATL will also provide ground handling services at the airport. Completion of the first phase is expected in 2019.[1][3][4] Construction on some parts of the airport was halted temporarily to pave way for a redesign.[13]

Under the new arrangements with Qatar Airways, a much larger airport is planned, with a construction budget of US$1.31 billion. The first phase is planned to take five years, with completion of the second phase planned in 2032.[14]

Planned facilities

According to the TPS report, the new airport would be able to handle one million passengers and 150 million tonnes of cargo annually during its first phase. Bugesera International Airport will have a 30,000 square metre passenger terminal with 22 check-in counters, ten gates, and six passenger boarding bridges. It will also have provisions for a second runway.[15]

See also

References
  1. Rwirahira, Rodrigues (14 August 2017). "Construction work on Bugesera Airport starts". The EastAfrican. Nairobi. Retrieved 14 August 2017.
  2. Habimana, Seraphine (16 July 2014). "Rwanda: Bugesera Airport Project To Start After Families' Pay-Off". New Times (Rwanda) via AllAfrica.com. Kigali. Retrieved 7 September 2016.
  3. Mugisha, Ivan (4 February 2018). "Bugesera construction at 10pc, five months on". The EastAfrican. Nairobi. Retrieved 5 February 2018.
  4. Mwai, Collins (11 August 2017). "Rwanda:Bugesera Residents Eye Jobs as Works on New Airport Take Off". New Times (Rwanda). Kigali. Archived from the original on 18 August 2017. Retrieved 17 August 2017.
  5. GFC (17 August 2017). "Distance between Kigali International Airport, KN 5 Road, Kigali, Rwanda and Rilima, Eastern Province, Rwanda". Globefeed.com (GFC). Retrieved 17 August 2017.
  6. Google (17 August 2017). "Planned Location of Bugesera International Airport" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 17 August 2017.
  7. FRC (17 August 2017). "Elevation of Rilima Above Sea Level". Fallingrain.com (FRC). Retrieved 17 August 2017.
  8. EXPOGR (13 August 2014). "New Bugesera International Airport, Rwanda Among Projects That Need US$1 Billion". Expogr.Com (EXPOGR) Quoting Construction Review Online. Retrieved 29 November 2014.
  9. Ivan R. Mugisha (2 September 2016). "Rwanda inks $418m deal with Portuguese firm for Bugesera airport". The East African. Nairobi. Retrieved 7 September 2016.
  10. Kabona, Esiara (23 November 2010). "New Bugesera International Airport Could Change Rwanda". The Independent (Uganda). Kampala. Retrieved 5 February 2018.
  11. "Qatar Airways to buy new Rwandan international airport". Al Jazeera. 10 December 2019. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
  12. Reuters (10 December 2019). "Qatar Airways To Take Majority Stake In New Rwandan International Airport". The EastAfrican. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
  13. New Times Reporter (April 2019). "Bugesera International Airport under redesign". Kigali: New Times (Rwanda). Retrieved 10 April 2019.
  14. Gerald Andae (11 December 2019). "Qatar's Sh131bn Rwanda airport set to rival JKIA". Business Daily Africa. Nairobi. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
  15. "Rwanda's Bugesera International Airport to Set Records for Sustainability". ArchDaily. 20 February 2019. Retrieved 10 April 2019.
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