Rwanda Air Transport

1. The Legal Framework of the
Aviation Sector in Rwanda
Prepared by Hassan MBARUSHIMANA
A student in Civil Aviation Management
At University of Turkish Aeronautical Association

2. • A short summary about aviation in Rwanda
• Aviation sector has become a significant key of development in
Rwanda, but this required to be conducted from both legal, economic
and environment perspective, In the past the East African aviation
sector has recorded low flying levels. This situation is compounded by
a low percentage of intra-African flight routes. Local airlines have
blamed multiple and uneven taxes imposed on the sector for the high
cost and low level of air travel in the region. In Rwanda, however, a
surge in aviation related construction combined with rising demand
for air travel is attracting international investors and developers.

3. • Key legislation and regulation
• Chicago Convention
• The Convention on International Civil Aviation, also known as the
Chicago Convention, establishes rules of airspace, aircraft registration
and safety, and details the rights of the signatories in relation to air
travel. The Convention also exempts commercial air fuels from tax.
• The Chicago Convention has 191 state parties, which includes all
member states of the United Nations – except Dominica,
Liechtenstein, and Tuvalu – plus the Cook Islands.

5. • MINISTRY OF INFLASTRUCTURE IN RWANDA
The Ministry of infrastructure is the ministry under the actions of
infrastructure of the country of Rwanda on Its remit includes
overseeing maintenance and development of infrastructure in Rwanda
including transport, energy, habitat and urbanism, meteorology, and
water sanitation.

6. • Rwanda Civil Aviation Authority (RCAA)
• In replacement of the Rwanda Airport Authority established in 1986, Civil
Aviation Authority (CAA) was created by law no 21/2004 of 10/08/2004 to
take on the management, operation and maintenance of airport
infrastructure. The Act was later revised in 2006 by law no 44/2006 of
05/10/2006 forming Rwanda Civil Aviation Authority (RCAA). Its
headquarters are situated in the city of Kigali, capital of the Republic of
Rwanda and is managed in compliance with laws relating to public service.
• RCAA is a government body formed in 2006 to provide air navigation
services and for the safety, security and economic regulation of the civil
aviation sector. The RCAA also provides navigations services at 5 airports in
Rwanda.. It is responsible for ensuring that government policies and
regulations are implemented

7. • The Aviation, Travel and Logistics Limited (ATL Ltd)
The Aviation, Travel and Logistics Limited (ATL Ltd) was approved by the
Cabinet Rwandan Government, and will manage aviation activities
including travel, logistics, ground, freight and cargo handling, and charter
services.
The company which has five subsidiaries, according to government
officials, will help position the country as a regional aviation hub for
tourism, cargo and logistics-related activities.
The subsidiary companies include RwandAir, the National Logistic
Company; Hospitality and Travel Management Limited, the Rwanda
Airports Management Limited, and Akagera Aviation.

8. • East African Community Civil Aviation Safety and Security Oversight
Agency
• A technical institution of the East African Community responsible for
ensuring the development of a safe and secure civil aviation system in
the region.

9. Current projects
• KIGALI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
The expansion of Kigali International airport began in June 2015 and is
scheduled to finish in June 2017. The new airport will provide the Great
Lakes Region of Rwanda with a viable transport hub capable of handling
larger aircraft and with a capacity of up to 1 million passengers.
• BUGESERA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
A further airport is due to be constructed in the Bugesera region. Bugesera
Airport Airport is a proposed international airport intended to serve as a hub
of West Eastern of Africa. A feasibility study and preliminary design for the
airport has been completed and the soliciting of funds for construction is
fulfilled and the Airport is under the construction which has began in June
2016 and is scheduled to finish in June 2018 as the first phase will be ended

10. • Conclusion
• The aviation industry has changed dramatically because of this
important policy structure by increasing the facilities that has help in
improving the air transportation in Rwanda, where now RwandAir is
one of the airline in the region that uses types of big aircraft with
both enough capacity and fair prices, this has increase the number
traveler because of air travel more affordable and accessible, the
numbers of international passengers that fly to Rwanda has increased
considerably. However, The industry is still growing for both
economic, legal and environmental