President Kagame flags off Bugesera International Airport construction

Bugesera, 12 August 2017 – Today, President Paul Kagame laid a foundation stone at Rilima in Bugesera District to officially flag off construction works for Bugesera International Airport.
In a groundbreaking ceremony that gathered officials from the government and stakeholders in the aviation sector, President Kagame reiterated the Rwandan Government’s commitment to see the Bugesera Airport completed and operational.
“We may not be big but we will always strive to be our best. Bugesera Airport is an important part of Rwanda’s strategy for socio-economic transformation. We see this facility as an essential component in boosting intra-African travel, investment and business,” President Kagame said.
In September 2016, the Government of Rwanda concluded negotiations for a Public Private Partnership transaction with Mota-Engil Africa and Aviation Travel & Logistics Holding Ltd to develop the Bugesera International Airport.  The private partners will construct, own, and operate the airport under a 25-year concession agreement.
The Bugesera Airport project will be developed in five phases, the first of which kicks off today. The latter is slated to take 27 months and cost an estimated US $ 400 Million.
“Rwandans to whom we are accountable are used to having high expectations and trust us to deliver. This will be no different. We look forward to celebrating the inauguration of the new airport in the not too distant future,” President Kagame vowed.
At the completion of the first phase, the airport will be able to accommodate 1.8 million passengers per year. The development of the subsequent phases will be triggered by passenger traffic and financed by internally generated funds of the project.  It is expected that at the end of the concession, Bugesera Airport will accommodate a minimum of 6 million passengers per year.
The Bugesera Airport project is in line with Rwanda’s economic blueprint, Vision 2020. The project will have a high impact on national socioeconomic transformation efforts, and on the positioning of Rwanda as a regional hub. It will help sustain growth in the aviation sector by providing necessary facilities to RwandAir as a growing airline.