RwandAir has welcomed the first freighter aircraft into its fleet - a Boeing 737-800SF - as it expands its cargo operations. The narrowbody cargo workhorse arrived in Kigali this week after recently undergoing a passenger-to-freighter (P2F) conversion.

RwandAir's dedicated freighter arrives

The cargo plane's arrival has been a couple of years in the making following RwandAir's announcement in September 2020 that it was seeking a dedicated freighter. While initial rumors suggested the airline may lease a freighter from 49% stakeholder Qatar Airways, the African carrier has opted for a 2007-built Boeing 737-800SF (registration: 9XR-WW), acquired on lease from US-based Merx Aviation.

rwandair cargo 737 2
Photo: RwandAir

Yvonne Makolo, RwandAir chief executive, said,

"The delivery of our dedicated cargo aircraft is a huge milestone in RwandAir’s fleet expansion plans. Cargo is of ever-increasing importance for the aviation industry, and as a landlocked country, we recognize the importance and value of good cargo connections. We want to ensure that Africa is seamlessly connected to the world, driving economic growth and valuable trade deals."

Arriving at Kigali International Airport (KGL) on November 24th from Reykjavík via Athens International Airport, ch-aviation reports that the narrowbody completed its P2F conversion in October at Kelowna International Airport, Canada, overseen by KF Aerospace. The arrival of its first cargo aircraft will enable RwandAir to expand its freighter operations - the airline had been utilizing its two Airbus A330s to conduct cargo flights before the pandemic hit but has not operated a dedicated freighter until now.

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About 9XR-WW

9XR-WW is a 15-year-old Boeing 737-800SF that first entered service in April 2007 under Thomsonfly (later TUI). The freighter has been painted in RwandAir's first-ever cargo livery and will conduct cargo operations across several destinations in Africa and the Middle East, including Johannesburg, Nairobi, and the UAE.

Prior to its conversion, 9XR-WW flew under TUI and Canadian low-cost-carrier Sunwing Airlines. The plane was owned by Japanese lessor Mitsui Bussan Aerospace for the majority of its service life, before passing hands to Merx Aviation earlier this year.

Demand has been growing for Boeing 737-800 freighters since the outbreak of the pandemic, with the global 737-800 freighter fleet doubling in size since 2021. Another airline with its eye on a new freighter is Israeli flag carrier El Al, which is expected to bring in a Boeing 737-800BCF within the next six months.

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RwandAir's young fleet

The carrier currently operates a fleet of 12 aircraft with an average age of under six years, giving it one of the youngest fleets on the continent. This includes two widebody Airbus A330s, along with six passenger Boeing 737s, two Bombardier CRJ-900s and two DHC Dash-800s.

Rwandair aircraft tail
Photo: Getty Images

Rwanda's national airline currently operates passenger services to 28 destinations across 22 countries in Africa, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. Noted as one of the best airlines in Africa, RwandAir recently celebrated being awarded ‘Best Airline Staff in Africa’ at Skytrax’s 2022 World Airline Awards for the second year in a row.

Do you think RwandAir has made the right choice by investing in a dedicated freighter aircraft? Let us know your opinions in the comments.