DRC airspace ban will be costly for RwandAir, experts say

The ban includes “overflights and landings on the territory of the Democratic Republic of Congo for all state and civil aircraft registered in Rwanda and those registered elsewhere and based in Rwanda,” according to an official notice.

This latest move by the DRC dims hopes of a resolution to the diplomatic rift between Rwanda and the Congo, with the possibility of a total breakdown in relations, especially as the M23 rebels, whom Kinshasa accuses Kigali of supporting, seized Goma two weeks ago in a bloody offensive that left at least 3,000 people dead, and are now advancing on Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu province.

In a notice, RwandAir said: "Due to the closure of DR Congo airspace to Rwanda registered aircraft, RwandAir has rerouted affected flight paths. We are working to provide the safest and most efficient alternatives while minimising inconvenience to our passengers. RwandAir apologises for any inconvenience and advises customers to monitor our website and X feed for updates. You can also contact your local RwandAir office with any questions."

Kinshasa has been reviewing its security and aviation protocols, particularly where its territory overlaps with Rwanda, in preparation for possible attacks on its capital.

A source in Rwanda's aviation sector said Kinshasa had also instructed Rwandan tower controllers to notify the Congolese before authorising any passenger or cargo flights to neighbouring Brazzaville, which the source described as "unusual".

This is to give Kinshasa time to ensure that these flights are not smuggling soldiers or weapons into Brazzaville, which is just 7km away.

RwandAir uses Congolese airspace for faster and cheaper access to Congo-Brazzaville. Flights to West Africa and Europe, which account for 70 percent of the airline's traffic, fly over the DRC. These African destinations include Lagos and Abuja in Nigeria, Accra in Ghana, Douala in Cameroon and Libreville in Gabon.

Aviation experts say bypassing the DRC will be costly for RwandAir in terms of increased fuel consumption and flight time.

Sources say RwandAir flights will now fly through Uganda and South Sudan.

In 2020, two years into his first term, President Felix Tshisekedi gave RwandAir the green light to operate three direct flights a week to Kinshasa, Lubumbashi and Goma.

Two years later, in August 2022, his government blocked the flights after accusing Kigali of supporting a resurgent M23 bent on overthrowing the Kinshasa government. Rwanda has always denied these accusations.

As Rwanda embarked on a strategy to become a major player in the meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (Mice) and tourism sectors, its aviation sector was expected to play an enabling role. Analysts warn that a breakdown in relations with its neighbours will, to some extent, hurt both the aviation and tourism sectors, and ultimately the economy.

Despite being largely loss-making, the government has continued to subsidise RwandAir because of its key role in enabling the entire service sector to flourish.

As part of this effort, Rwanda sold a 49 percent stake in RwandAir and a 60 percent stake in the $2 billion Bugesera International Airport, currently under construction, to Qatar Airways.

Intent on benefiting from the Gulf giant's extensive distribution channel and vast resources, Rwanda needed to grow its aviation industry while allowing Qatar Airways to extend its global reach to the African continent to offset the effects of its continued isolation from its Gulf neighbours.