Rwanda and Italy sign Bilateral Air Services Agreement

Kigali, 20 August 2018: The Government of Rwanda have signed a Bilateral Air Services Agreement with the Italian Republic with the aim of enhancing commercial flight operations between the two countries. Rwanda’s Minister of Infrastructure Amb. Claver Gatete and Ambassador of Italian Republic to Rwanda Domenico Fornara signed on behalf of the respective countries.

Minister of Infrastructure, Ambassador Claver Gatete said that the agreement will help to expand Rwanda’s air transport network. He revealed that the arrangement was agreed upon on 6^th December, 2017 in Colombo, Sri Lanka in the framework of ICAN (ICAO Air Services Negotiation  Event) 2017-ICAO program to discuss and conclude on the content of this BASA.

“This agreement was negotiated and agreed upon in Colombo, Sri Lanka last year in December, 2017 and now we are putting on a signature so that we can be able to benefit from it,” he revealed, adding that it also signifies the increasing cooperation between Italy and Rwanda.

He added that the signed agreement marks the definitive step of concluding this Bilateral Air Services Agreement to compile with ICAO requirements. “This will improve movement of people, trade and tourism between our two friendly countries and offering a competitive platform to our designated airlines.”

Ambassador Domenico Fornara indicated that what was signed was a legal framework, which will form a basis on which other technical processes would follow. “The agreement is a legal framework. It creates all the basis on which technical levels can work without further engaging political organizations,” he noted.

The agreement signed will now allow the national carrier, RwandAir, to operate air services to Italy as well as Italy’s commercial airlines to operate in Rwanda without restrictions. RwandAir operates two routes to European; Kigali-London and Kigali-Brussels. The new agreement will allow the airline to widen its footprint in Europe.