PHOTOS: Rwanda’s new airport in Bugesera takes shape

After a few interruptions brought about by changes in an improved design with increased size and quality, construction works are now at a very advanced stage as Rwanda speeds up the construction of its new Kigali International Airport in Bugesera district.

Ongoing activities include works on the main horizontal infrastructure such as runways, drainage concrete works, earthwork platforms, aircraft parking, connecting taxiways, and internal service roads.

The new airport located about 40 kilometers south of Kigali is expected to be completed by late 2026, at an estimated cost of $2 billion.

Once completed, the new airport will boast a 130,000-square-meter main terminal building capable of initially accommodating 8 million passengers annually. This figure, according to Aviation Travel and Logistics (ATL), a government-owned holding company managing aviation-related activities, is expected to rise to more than 14 million in the future.

An aerial view of works on the aircraft parking and connecting taxiways. Aviation Travel and Logistics (ATL).

Adjacent will be a cargo terminal capable of accommodating 150,000 tons of cargo annually.

The CEO of ATL, Jules Ndenga, pointed out that the new airport will position Rwanda as a vibrant African hub and boost the national and regional economies.

Below are aerial images taken in the first week of May 2023 showing the latest developments at the construction site.

Apron aircraft parking works underway. Aviation Travel and Logistics (ATL).

Apron aircraft parking works are underway. Aviation Travel and Logistics (ATL).

Drainage concrete works. Aviation Travel and Logistics (ATL).

Drainage concrete works. Aviation Travel and Logistics (ATL).

Men at work on drainage concrete works. Aviation Travel and Logistics (ATL).

Drainage concrete works. Aviation Travel and Logistics (ATL).

The earthwork platform seen from the air. Aviation Travel and Logistics (ATL).

The earthwork platform seen from the air. Aviation Travel and Logistics (ATL).

Earthworks including land grading to reconfigure the topography of the site, or to stabilize slopes. Aviation Travel and Logistics (ATL).

Lots of heavy trucks and other construction machinery are being used to speed up the earthworks. Aviation Travel and Logistics (ATL).

Earthworks. Aviation Travel and Logistics (ATL).

Part of the completed fence and nearly finished internal road network. Aviation Travel and Logistics (ATL).

[NBIA MASTER PLAN IMAGE]: The master plan of the new Kigali International Airport in Bugesera district. Aviation Travel and Logistics (ATL).

A section of the airport showing the nearly complete runway, taxiway, and internal road. Aviation Travel and Logistics (ATL).

The nearly complete runway, taxiway, and internal road. Aviation Travel and Logistics (ATL).

An artistic impression of the airport’s terminal building, terminal parking, runway, and aircraft parking. Aviation Travel and Logistics (ATL).

The terminal, administration building, cargo, and car parking areas of the new airport once it is complete. Aviation Travel and Logistics (ATL).

Internal road pavement works are underway. Aviation Travel and Logistics (ATL).

Workers are busy doing subbase work on the aircraft taxiway. Aviation Travel and Logistics (ATL)

Airside pavement works. Aviation Travel and Logistics (ATL)

Work on the internal road network. Aviation Travel and Logistics (ATL).