In an interview with the Financial Times, RwandAir Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Yvonne Makolo expressed optimism that the talks, which have been ongoing for about five years, would soon yield the desired results.

“It’s been going on for a while; we have been discussing it for almost five years. So, now, we’re really at the tail-end of it,” Makolo told the British daily.

Senior executives close to the negotiations intimated to the publication that the agreement could be executed as early as next month - July.

The deal is expected to help RwandAir expand its operations, including increasing the number of aircraft and destinations, as well as enhancing the skills of its employees.

It will also help Qatar Airways increase the number of flights it operates in Africa.

“We access over 70 points on their network, and they access a number of points, especially in central Africa, where they don’t have a presence,” Makolo added.

Officials say the deal between RwandAir and the Qatar-based airline was partly delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic and by Qatar hosting the FIFA World Cup.

Codeshare deal

But the two airlines have been working together since late 2021 when they signed a codeshare agreement aimed at offering travelers more choice, enhanced service, and greater connectivity to more than 65 destinations across Africa and the rest of the world.

As part of the agreement, the state-owned carrier launched non-stop flights between Kigali and Doha.

“This codeshare agreement will give our customers significantly more choice and flexibility, allowing RwandAir to strengthen its global presence and build on its strong and loyal African customer base. As we continue to grow out of the pandemic, this partnership represents yet another extremely important step on our recovery runway, and we hope to deliver more commitments like this to our customers in the very near future," Makolo stated while welcoming the partnership in October 2021.

In a separate agreement reached in 2019, Qatar Airways agreed to take a 60 percent stake in Bugesera International Airport in Kigali, being built at a cost of $1.3 billion.

Makolo says the new airport, expected to be operational in 2027 and have an initial capacity for eight million passengers, would turn Kigali into “a major transit hub” on the continent.

RwandAir and Qatar Airways are in advanced talks for an agreement that will see the latter acquire a 49 percent stake in the national carrier.