Kagame criticizes the high cost of flying in Africa

President Paul Kagame has called for reducing the exorbitant cost of air travel throughout Africa, arguing that it shouldn’t be a luxury only afforded to the wealthy.

Speaking at the 2025 Aviation Africa Summit’s inauguration in Kigali, Kagame emphasized the need for a more vibrant and inclusive aviation industry that fosters innovation, connects people, and drives economic progress.

The President said that inexpensive air travel is not just a convenience but also essential to the growth of the continent as African skies get busier and the middle class grows.

At the two-day conference held at the Kigali Convention Centre, hundreds of participants heard Kagame’s speech, “The vision for Africa is very clear: To invest in a stronger and more dynamic aviation sector as a necessary building block for economic growth.”

“The need for air travel will only increase due to rising tourism and a burgeoning middle class. The numbers are self-evident. Our continent’s senior traffic is predicted to grow in the upcoming years,” he stated.

The President noted that measures like the Single Africa Air Transport Market are part of the continental efforts to open countries’ airspace.

He stated that another important factor facilitating progress is the African Continental Free Trade Area.

“Rwanda is still contributing by establishing favorable laws and policies, and we urge others to follow suit. For instance, we no longer require a visa for any African national,” he stated.

Despite high operating expenses and infrastructural deficiencies on the continent, he said Rwanda’s national carrier is also growing its fleet in terms of infrastructure and logistical investments.

This raises the cost of capital and people’s transportation beyond what is necessary. “Not just the wealthy should be able to travel,” Kagame stated.

To play a key role in realizing the vision of “one sky” and free movement on the continent, he emphasized the necessity of collaborating more closely with the continent’s institutions, such as the African Union and organizations in charge of aviation growth, in order to strengthen and make sure they are suitable for their intended use.

In the end, if we cooperate, we can do a lot more. “We possess all the necessary resources and capabilities,” he stated.

The President stated that the continent must prioritize enabling women and girls to seek employment in the aviation sector.

He noted that these frameworks have the potential to strengthen the basis for innovation and generate more jobs if they are correctly implemented.

For the fourth time, Rwanda is hosting the Aviation Africa Summit.

According to Kagame, the conference has been essential in demonstrating the rapid expansion of Africa’s aviation sector since its start.

Partnerships and technology

With the topic “Collaborating to unlock Africa’s growth – How can Africa deliver a sustainable aviation industry?,” the event brings together leading figures in the aviation sector, legislators, regulators, and innovators.

Approximately 2,000 delegates and 120 exhibitors, including aerospace and aviation industries, have been drawn to the event.

According to Kagame, collaborations would be helpful in accelerating the expansion of the African aviation sector, which has enormous potential.

Rwanda’s collaborations with Zipline, which is depicted here today, are the focus of my attention. We started collaborating closely about ten years ago to employ drones to transport needed blood supplies to medical facilities all over our nation. He said, “This technology saves lives in addition to saving time.”

Since our collaboration has been so fruitful, we are working together to see whether we can expand it to include deliveries in cities. He noted that this is the cornerstone of important future sectors like e-commerce.

In the meantime, the President was present for the September 4 introduction of the first self-flying air taxi in Kigali, which was made possible by a partnership between the government and the China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC).

Kagame remarked, “We are thrilled to be a part of this demonstration and are eager to see what comes next.”