Kigali International Airport.

Kigali International Airport was formerly known as Kanombe International Airport. It is the main airport in Kigali serving Rwanda as a whole. The airport is served by 4 airlines that are based in Kigali that is to say Rwandair, which is the flag carrier airline for Rwanda, Akagera Aviation, Tampus Jet and Nexus Aero. Kigali International Airport is situated in Kanombe, a suburb In the eastern part of Kigali.

History of Kigali International Airport.

Kigali International Airport due to its strategic location was a turning point in the Rwandan civil war. Rwanda is landlocked and the only way to get out of it was to use the airport that lies in the central parts of the country.

Kigali airport originally had two runways though the Arusha accord was closed following several requests from the Rwandan patriotic front since for some specific reasons it was putting the security of the country at stake.

In April 1994, an aircraft of the then Rwandan president Habyarimana was shot down and was linked to either the Rwanda patriotic front or Rwanda defence forces. It was this event that immediately sparked off the commencement of the 1994 Rwanda genocide which claimed thousands of lives.

Terminals at the airport.

Kigali International Airport has got 3 fully functional terminals with the main 2 story terminal that was constructed to replace the old 1 story building that currently houses the VIP terminals and lounges. Kigali International Airport’s main terminal can handle up to six small mid-sized aircraft.

The South of the airport has 2 helipads with access to the runway and it is normally used by the military in their day-to-day operations. There is a cargo terminal at the airport too that is responsible for the transportation of goods in and out of the country.

The current developments at the airport were initiated in 2002. Kigali International Airport stands out as a state-of-the-art International Airport on the African continent due to its amenities, especially for the fact that it is served by 24/7 steady Wi-Fi which helps to keep the travellers connected to their families and helps business run with no interruption.

The airport is ranked among the top airports in Africa mainly for its capacity to respond to disasters in the shortest time possible. The airport is ranked by International Aviation Organization Standards in category 9 because it has an effective fire department.

Flights operated.

Kigali International Airport operates both passenger and cargo flights with passenger planes from airlines such as Auric Air, Brussels Airlines, Coastal Aviation, Egypt Air, Ethiopian Airlines, Kenya Airways, KLM, Turkish Airlines to respective destinations and Rwandair to most African destinations.

Cargo airlines operating with Kigali International Airport incorporate Astral Aviation, Kenya Airways Cargo, Ethiopian Airlines Cargo, Magma Aviation, and Qatar Airways Cargo to respective home destinations and Rwandair cargo to most African destinations.

How Kigali International Airport aids tourism in Rwanda?

Kigali International Airport itself is a tourist attraction, especially the outstanding artefacts it’s associated with and the souvenir shops that give tourists and travellers to the country a glimpse of the Rwandan culture.

The airport is a gateway to most tourist attractions in the country. It has such a strategic location in the centre of the country that it can easily connect to all the tourist destinations in the different regions of the country.

Kigali International Airport operates on a daily which helps the tourism business in the country run smoothly and therefore travellers can get to check out the most exciting destinations in the country anytime they wish with no interruptions.

Sándor Jakubinyi

14:31 22 Feb 24

2019 megigazulás

12:45 21 Feb 24

We went on a two-week trip with my family, organised by Coleb from Standard Safaris.I had my concerns about organised trips, but this one didn’t justify any of those. Everything went very smoothly, even when some problems arose with one of the cars it got fixed by next morning, the accomodations were clean and comfortable, the programs were exciting and well-balanced - everything was done to a truly high standard.If you plan to visit Uganda and are looking for a guide, I warmly recommend Coleb and his team. In case you have a choice of drivers, go for Godwin, his presence made this trip even more enjoyable - cheerful, helpful, good sense of humour, generally a great person. Just look for the guy with a big smile and big heart:)

Bert Simoens

09:38 08 Jan 24

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Michał Kostrzewa

00:41 15 Nov 23

We are all extremely grateful Standard Safaris for an incredible East Africa experience. I recently booked a custom trip for group of 8 people, including an 8-year-old boy, from Kampala through Queen Elizabeth National Park and on to Rwanda and Burundi. Coleb delivered on everything that was discussed and agreed upon beforehand.The car provided was in great condition and our driver Meddy went above and beyond to make sure we were comfortable, informed, and had the best possible time. He was friendly, knowledgeable, and professional. All local services were inlcuded in (reasonable) price that we agreed, so there was no need to worry about payments during the 6 day trip. Also Standard Safaris agreed took care about safety and security by helping us organize armed ranger while in the park.The whole trip was hassle-free and smooth. We saw amazing wildlife in Queen Elizabeth NP, took in the sights of Rwanda and Burundi, and made lifelong memories.I would happily book with Standard Safaris again in a heartbeat and recommend them wholeheartedly to anyone looking for the best East Africa trip. They provide top-notch service while ensuring you have an incredible, customized experience. If you want a hassle-free, flawlessly organized African adventure, Standard Safaris is the tour operator to book with.

Ivan Nammanda

18:31 27 Oct 23

Very organized travel operator who chose awesome guide to make our trip wonderful.We booked a nine days trip with Standard Safaris and all was perfect from start to finish. Coleb was very prompt at replying and easy to liaise with ahead of the trip. We had done a lot of research and had an itinerary in mind and Coleb helped us to put everything together to make this happen for a very reasonable price.  On the trip we had a private vehicle for the whole tour which was exactly what we wanted. Bryan was our driver and an amazing guide - really friendly and knowledgable, working hard to find the things that we wanted to see and quickly understanding what was of interest to us/how much information to give.Would highly recommend a trip to Uganda with Standard Safaris. We are definitely coming back soon!

MUGAIGA KENNETH

18:01 27 Oct 23

The company has very courteous tour guides with wide knowledge of fauna and frola in the whole of East Africa.The choice of safari Lodges is good with first class treatment.Game drive security is assured.Almost The whole of September I was traversing through DRC, Uganda,and Rwanda on a gorilla tour and wildlife expedition.Everything was arranged and booked perfectly by Standard Safaris.The owner, Coleb was always helpful whenever we needed to ask questions about this gorilla safari in Uganda and beyond.It was a complex expedition but Standard safaris and Coleb made it look amazingly easy.I’ll recommend Standard safaris 200%, for all gorilla safaris in Uganda, Rwanda and wildlife tours in east africa.

travel uganda

16:35 27 Oct 23

This is so far the best gorilla trekking company in Uganda, and africa, by far. I had a wonderful time with Standard Safaris as a solo traveler.My guide was excellent and our safari planner, Coleb was quick with responses and the prices were very friendly.I’ll definitely book with Standard safaris on my next gorilla tour in Rwanda and Uganda.

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