Airport Overview 

Kigali International Airport (IATA: KGL, ICAO: HRYR), formerly known as Gregoire Kayibanda International Airport, sometimes referred to as Kanombe International Airport, is the main airport serving Kigali, the capital of Rwanda. It is the country's main airport, but it is also of regional importance as it serves Congolese, Burundian and Ugandan cities. 

The airport is located on the outskirts of Kanombe, southeast of Kigali, about 5 km from the city center by expressway and about 10km from the central business district of the Rwandan capital. 

Located at 1491 meters above sea level, its terminal is one of the highest in the world among international airports. Its 3500-meter runway allows landing of all types of aircraft and has allowed the continuous increase of passenger traffic to the 800 000 passengers who passed through it in 2017. 

Kigali airport has three terminals and two heliports. The main terminal was built to replace the smaller building that now serves as a VIP terminal. The third terminal is the cargo terminal, which enjoys great activity due to the isolation of Rwanda. The latest renovations and modernizations of the airport have allowed it to be in 2017 ranked 7th among the best regional airports in Africa for its fire/safety standards and 2nd in Africa for its compliance with ICAO standards. 

The topography of Kigali does not allow to extend the capacities of the current airport and the passenger traffic being constantly increasing in Rwanda, a new airport intended to serve the capital and to replace the airport of Kanombe is currently under construction in Bugesera, 40km south of Kigali. The new airport will have only one runway but will have the ability to see a second one built later. 

In September 2016, the Rwandan government sealed a partnership with the Portuguese company Mota-Engil Engenharia e Construção África. This company is responsible for the construction and for a 25-year management of the airport. The new airport will have at its inauguration a capacity of 1.7 million passengers per year. This capacity will be expandable to 4.5 million passengers once all infrastructure is completed. In exchange Mota-Engil Engenharia and Construção África will cover the costs of 418 million USD for the first phase and 400 million USD for the second phase, a total investment of 818 million US dollars. 

 

Airport Location and Contact
Country	Rwanda
Province or District	Kigali
Nearest Town or City   with Distance from Airport	Kigali – 05 Km from city centre.
Airport’s Complete Name	Kigali International Airport
Latitude	-1.966389
Longitude	30.13306
Elevation (ft and m)	4,891 ft / 1,491 m
IATA Code	KGL / HRYR
ICAO Code	KGL / HRYR
Managing Company or Airport Authority	Rwanda Airports Authority
Management Contact Person	Emmanuel Gacinya, Director of Rwanda Airports Authority
Open From (hours)	24 hours
Open To (hours)	24 hours

Airport Picture 

 

Description and Contacts of Key Companies 

Airport	Company	Name	Title
Kigali International Airport	Flight Management	Yves Tuyishime	Managing Director
Kigali International Airport	Rwandair	Yvonne Manzi Makolo	CEO
Kigali International Airport	Bank of Kigali	Uwineza Polline	Branch Manager

For more information on airport contacts, please see the following link: 4.5 Airport Companies Contact List. 

Information on some aviation service providers can be found at: http://www.azfreight.com/  

Passenger and Cargo Performance Indicator 

Kigali, 2 June 2020:  The Kigali International Airport is undergoing expansion works to address congestion issues.  The number of flights to and from the airport has outstripped its optimal capacity, calling for expansion as a short-term solution to the increased number of flights and passengers passing through the airport. 

Main sections under renovation include the expansion of arrival terminal, runway strip grading, the apron and service road. The new airport apron – an airport parking – is 53,000 square meters with capacity to accommodate 18 aircraft. Next to it, is a newly completed arrivals terminal for domestic flights, those that are operated by the national carrier to and from local airports like Kamembe in Rusizi or Rubavu, among others. 

According to the Minister of infrastructure, Honorable Claver Gatete, the expansion works of the airport kicked off in September as part of the broader efforts to prepare for CHOGM, which was postponed due to the unprecedented COVID-19 crisis. 

Runways 

The surface, strength and general condition of the parking area is good. There is sufficient lighting, and the markings are clear. Expansion and runway rehabilitation work has been undertaken and the taxiing and parking areas can accommodate a wide range of aircraft types up to a maximum of five aircraft. Access to fuel and unloading is good. 

Runway #1
Runway Dimensions	3,500 m X 60 m
Orientation	10/28
Surface	All Weather asphalt to ICAO standards.

 

Expansion and runway rehabilitation work has been undertaken and the taxiing and parking areas can accommodate a wide range of aircraft types up to a maximum of five aircraft. Access to fuel and unloading is good. There is construction of a new Airport namely Bugesera is underway and its completion anticipated in the near future. 

The surface, strength and general condition of the parking area is good. There is sufficient lighting, and the markings are clear. Expansion and runway rehabilitation work has been undertaken and the taxiing and parking areas can accommodate a wide range of aircraft types up to a maximum of five aircraft. Access to fuel and unloading is good. 

Helicopter Pad(s) 

The surface, strength and general condition of the parking area is good. There is sufficient lighting, and the markings are clear. Expansion and runway rehabilitation work has been undertaken and the taxiing and parking areas can accommodate a wide range of aircraft types up to a maximum of five aircraft. Access to fuel and unloading is good. 

Helipad #1
Present	Yes
Largest Helicopter that can Land	Mi-26 (no limit)
Width and Length (m)	Helicopters using KGL are requested to park on the large remote stand.
Surface	Asphalt

The infrastructure changes that are ongoing include improvement and extension of Kigali International Airport and other facilities. The major construction works were put on hold due to COVID – 19 but minor works were completed and there is a change in physical appearance and the capacity of the Airport hence improved aviation services leading to increased growth in Rwanda. 

Airport Infrastructure Details 

The infrastructure changes that are ongoing include construction, upgrading, improvement and extension of Kigali International Airport and other facilities. All works are progressing well and promising to change the physical appearance and the capacity of the Airport hence improved aviation services leading to increased growth in Rwanda. 
The Construction and improvement of works to the existing terminal is being carried out in a fully functional passenger terminal environment by a Switzerland based International Company called ROKO CONSTRUCTION and supervision works are done by SNC-LAVALIN under Rwanda Civil Aviation Authority. 

Customs	Yes	JET A-1 fuel	Yes
Immigration	Yes	AVGAS 100	Yes
Terminal Building	Yes	Single Point Refueling	Yes
Passenger Terminal	Yes	Air Starter Units	Yes
Cargo terminal	Yes	Ground Power (mobile)	Yes
Pax Transport to Airfield	Yes	Ground Handling Services	Yes
Control Tower	Yes	Latrine Servicing	Yes
Weather Facilities	Yes	Fire Fighting Category (ICAO)	Yes
Catering Services	Yes	De-icing Equipment	No
Base Operating Room	N/A	Parking Ramp Lighting	Yes
Airport Radar	Yes	Approach & Runway Lights	Yes
NDB	N/A	VOR	Yes
ILS	Yes

Airport Operating Details 

Operating Details
Maximum Sized Aircraft that can be Offloaded on Bulk Cargo	B777 or A330
Maximum Sized Aircraft that can be Offloaded on Pallet	No limit
Total Aircraft Parking Area (m²)	58,000 m²
Storage Area (m3 and mt)	1,800 mt
Handling Equipment
Elevators / Hi Loaders	Yes	Max Capacity (mt)	N/A
		Max Height  (m)	xx
Loading Ramps	Yes
Other Comments	N/A

Customs Guidance 

Goods imported by passengers arriving from places outside the east Africa partner States shall, subject to the limitations and conditions of customs. 

Any person arriving in Rwanda is required to make a declaration of all goods or articles in his possession to Customs either verbally, in form 126 Bis or DD COM depending on the value of goods (For 126 Bis, value must be < or = 500.000frw; above that value a DD COM must be established). In case the person denies carrying any goods, Customs officers may, when they have reason to believe that the person concerned does carry dutiable goods: 

- Inspect luggage, packages or any parcels carried by the person concerned; 
- Perform a search on the person concerned, including anal search; 
- If a physical examination is to be carried out, the officer must be satisfied that the person presenting the declaration is the actual owner. If it is owned by more than one passenger, all passengers must be present when conducting the physical examination. If circumstances do not permit the owner to be present, the one that presents the declaration must know the contents and be ready to answer queries that may arise. 

Once satisfied that the declaration is correct, the officer should give the travellers the statutory allowances as indicated under the respective regulation. However, should the travellers possess goods beyond the allowances, appropriate duties and taxes must be calculated and collected in prescribed manner. 

For more information on customs in Rwanda, please see the following link: 1.3 Customs Information.   

Storage Facilities 

Upon arrival of goods at the airport, notice of arrival is given by MAGERWA (Magasin Generaux – “bonded warehouse”) office at the airport to the forwarding agent (F/A) who contacts the consignee. The air waybill is collected from airline and Rwanda air Cargo Office. The F/A completes the customs declaration form with the amount of tax stated with the attached air waybill and commercial invoice. 

Additionally, other documents such as a Certificate of Origin are attached and presented to the customs officer who checks the tax calculations and completeness of the documents before payment. Handling charges and storage fees are paid to MAGERWA, and the goods are then released. During emergency situations special arrangements can be made at government offices so that goods can be cleared within 3 days. 

Airfield Costs 

Navigation Charges 

For information on all fees, please see the links below: 

https://rac.co.rw/ 

https://www.caa.gov.rw/ 
 

AIR-BRIDGE CHARGES 

There are no air bridges in Rwanda. 

 

Security 

Security is good both inside and around the terminal. Inside the terminal, the airport security personnel have radio communication and passenger, and luggage screening equipment are well placed. The personnel and luggage screening equipment are positioned in two locations for double screening of passengers and handheld bags. 

Outside the terminal, security personnel and police patrol within the periphery of the airport compound and are stationed at the entrance to the airport and vehicles are directed to park at a distance from the terminal. There is a public address system in use to announce flight situations and this system could be utilised for security related events. 

 

Rwanda Bugesera International Airport under Construction since 2017 

Bugesera International Airport is an airport project in Rwanda. The USD818 million airport will be located 25km southeast of Kigali. The airport will feature a 4200m runway and have capacity for 1.7 million passenger’s p/a following the completion of first phase works. Total construction is expected to be complete by 2022 and will include the runway, cargo terminal and passenger terminal with capacity for 4.5 million passengers p/a. Mota Engil Engenharia e Construcao Africa SA replaced China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC) as the key contractor for the project. Construction commenced in 2017.