A crashed Air Guinée aircraft
Guinée is considering to send its transport experts to get trained in Rwanda and later help revive its ailing transport sector.
The West African nation believes Rwanda’s experience will bring its airline industry back to life, owing to Rwanda’s success in resurrecting Rwandair.
Oye Guilavogui, the Guinean Minister of Transport said, “We are in talks to revive Air Guinea…the Rwandan experience will help us a lot.”
“[Rwanda] is landlocked, they worked on their air transport, and we are learning from them,” Guilavogui said.
Air Guinée was formed in 1960 with the help of Russians, however, the company struggled to grow.
It was costing the country an annual loss of US$4 million until it was privatized in 1992 and dissolved later in 2002 and collapsed the same year when Rwanda was establishing its national carrier.
Despite the stiff competition in the air transport sector on the continent, Rwandair is regarded as the fastest growing airline in Africa, flying to an increasing number of destinations across Africa and Middle East.
Rwanda’s experience in navigating the complex air transport sector is what the Guinée government wants to carefully emulate to revive its defunct Air Guinée.
President Paul Kagame on Wednesday concluded a two-day state visit to Guinée where he was awarded the highest medal of honour.
Guinée’s President, Alpha Conde, and President Kagame signed seven bilateral agreements including visa facilitation, investment and air transport.
“What remains is for us to work together for the better future and development of our continent,” Kagame said after the signing.
Rwanda has announced that Rwandair will begin flights to Guinée Conakry immediately.
John Mirenge the Chief Executive Officer of RwandAir told KTPress, “We are going to study the market and will soon announce” a comprehensive plan on how to start flights between Kigali and Conakry, Guinée.
President Kagame and President Alpha Condé of Guinea Conakry hold a joint press conference | Conakry, 9 March 2016
President Kagame (c) visits the Port | Conakry, 9 March
Rwanda and Guinea delegation during President Kagame’s state Visit in Guinea
(L)Rwanda’s Foreign Affairs Minister Louise Mushikiwabo signing Cooperation MOU
