Qatar Airways Cargo has launched its first #cargo hub in #Africa in collaboration with #RwandAir, Rwanda’s flagship carrier, in a bid to tap into the high #aerospace growth projected for the #continent.

On Thursday a #QatarAirwaysCargo Boeing 777 freighter landed at #Kigali International Airport to officially open the new hub in the Rwandan capital. The aircraft will fly from #Doha to Kigali twice a week.

Since March, the Middle Eastern cargo #airline has been operating three times a week between Kigali and #Lagos as well as running a weekly service between #Istanbul to Kigali via Doha.

Qatar Airways Cargo already serves 28 African cities, providing freight services.

Guillaume Halleux, chief officer cargo at #QatarAirways, said in a statement that while African economies are developing rapidly, they need investment in #infrastructure to reach their full potential.

“Qatar and #Rwanda have long enjoyed bilateral trade agreements, with both Qatar Airways and #Qatar Investment Authority having previously invested in Kigali International Airport and RwandAir," he said,

adding, “It was therefore a logical step that Qatar Airways Cargo supports RwandAir in its cargo ambitions. Our customers will benefit from both a reliable intra-African network through our Kigali hub as well as enhanced service levels and cost synergies. We are proud to partner with RwandAir in establishing Kigali as the Central African hub in preparation for the next generation of air cargo on this fast-growing continent.