Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso) ↔ Kigali (Rwanda)

Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso) ↔ Kigali (Rwanda)

Route Status: Underserved
Route Type: Intra-African international
Region: West–East Africa

1. Demand & Passenger Traffic

• Current demand (2024): ~29,000 passengers/year
  
  

• Past demand (2022): ~27,630 passengers
  
  

• Forecast demand (2026): ~30,840 passengers
  
  

• Annual growth rate: ~2.5% CAGR
  
  

• Main traveler types: NGO staff, diplomats, government personnel, academic and health sector travelers
  
  

• Top O&D substitute cities: Addis Ababa, Nairobi, Accra, Paris
  
  

• Total travel time saved with direct flight: 8–11 hours per trip
  
  

• Average ticket cost (2024): $700–$1,050 round trip
  
  

2. Revenue Projections

• Estimated average yield: ~$145 per passenger
  
  

• Estimated annual route revenue: ~$4.2 million
  
  

• Potential net revenue after ops costs: ~$1–2 million
  
  

• Pricing advantage: Eliminates detours through East African and European hubs
  
  

• Seat load target: 59%+ breakeven with narrow-body aircraft
  
  

3. Economic Justification

• Burkina Faso GDP growth: 3.5%
  
  

• Rwanda GDP growth: 6.8%
  
  

• Kigali: Major conference and diplomatic destination in East Africa
  
  

• Ouagadougou: Home to regional development agencies and international NGOs
  
  

• Regular movement of humanitarian workers, consultants, and technical teams
  
  

4. Aircraft & Operational Details

• Aircraft types: Embraer E190-E2, A220-100, Dash 8 Q400
  
  

• Flight time (direct): ~3hr 30min
  
  

• Range: Within limits for all aircraft listed
  
  

• Runway length: Adequate at both airports for narrow-body operations
  
  

5. Proposed Launch Strategy

• Initial frequency: 2x weekly
  
  

• Scaling target: 3–4x weekly within 18 months
  
  

• Ideal timing: Morning departure from Ouagadougou, early afternoon return from Kigali
  
  

• Feeder network: Kigali to East Africa and COMESA; Ouagadougou to Sahel countries and West Africa
  
  

6. Strategic Value

• Direct route for NGO operations across Sahel and Great Lakes
  
  

• Safer, more efficient access for humanitarian missions
  
  

• Stronger development coordination between West and East Africa
  
  

• Adds connectivity for two policy-focused African cities
  
  

7. Recommended Airlines

• RwandAir
  
  

• ASKY Airlines
  
  

• Air Burkina
  
  

• UTM Airlines