Rwanda’s New $2 Billion Airport: What Bugesera Means for Your Next Trip to Kigali

If you have ever planned a trip to Rwanda, you have probably landed at the same small, busy airport in Kigali. That is about to change. A brand-new Bugesera International Airport is being built about 40 km south of the capital, and it is designed to be far bigger than anything the country has now.

So, when will it open, what will it cost and, most importantly, what does it change for you as a traveller? Let’s break it down, and separate what is confirmed from what is still a promise.

Bugesera Airport at a Glance

• Location: Bugesera district, about 40 km south of Kigali

• Cost: Around US$2 billion, up from US$1.3 billion in 2019

• First phase capacity: About 7 to 8.2 million passengers a year

• Full capacity: 14 million passengers a year by 2032

• Target opening: 2028 for the first phase

According to Tourism Update, the site covers 2,500 hectares and includes a 3,750-metre runway built for wide-body aircraft, a large terminal and a 14 km express road to Kigali. It is also being designed as a green airport, with solar power and a net-zero emissions goal.

Image credit: @Airport Design Management 

Why Does Rwanda Need a New Airport?

The short answer is space. Kigali International Airport was built for a much smaller country and a much smaller tourism market. CAPA’s analysis says the current airport has a capacity of about 1.7 million passengers a year, with an expansion to 4.5 million planned, and that RwandAir holds roughly 60% of its seats.

Official passenger figures have not been published since 2016, so exact numbers are hard to find. CAPA estimates the airport now handles around one million passengers a year, while scheduled seats reached about 2.19 million in 2024. Remember, seats are not the same as passengers, so treat the “2 million” figure you may see online with caution.

Is 14 Million Passengers Realistic?

Not at the start. The 14 million figure belongs to the second phase, which is expected by 2032, while the first phase is expected to handle about 7 million passengers or more. Also, airports count journeys, so a person who flies in and out counts twice.

That is why the plan is about more than tourists. Rwanda wants Bugesera to work as a connecting hub, where travellers change planes on their way across Africa and beyond. Moreover, the project includes a cargo terminal with a reported capacity of 150,000 tonnes a year, and the surrounding “Airport City” covers more than 2,000 hectares.

Bugesera New Airport

Who Is Paying for It?

Qatar Airways agreed in 2019 to take a 60% stake, and the Rwandan government holds the rest. Rwanda has also put in its own money: the Rwandan cabinet approved about US$499 million for the airport in the 2025/26 budget.

One detail has changed recently. Taarifa Rwanda reports that the Qatar Investment Authority acquired the 60% stake from Qatar Airways in June 2026. In addition, a planned deal for Qatar Airways to take a 49% stake in RwandAir had not been concluded at the time of CAPA’s report.

Why Should You Take the 2028 Date Carefully?

Airports are famous for delays, and this one has a long history. Construction began in 2017 and was halted in 2019 for a redesign, and the opening date has moved from 2018 to 2019 to 2026 and now to 2028. 

As of mid-2025, progress was estimated at only 25% to 30%, per Tourism Update. So, if you are planning a trip in the next two years, assume you will still land at Kigali International Airport. Think of Bugesera as a future upgrade, not a reason to delay your trip.

What the New Airport Could Mean for Travellers

First, more flights are the biggest hope. A larger hub with a major global airline behind it could add routes and make connections easier, and Tourism Update says it may even lower fares. However, that is an expectation, not a promise, and prices depend on many things.

Second, the journey will change. Bugesera is about 40 km from Kigali, so you will take an express road into the city. Plan your transport and your hotel booking around that distance when the time comes.

Third, prices may stay high for now. In August, it was reported that Lagos to Kigali fares had risen about 50% to roughly ₦1.2 million. So, book early and compare dates until new capacity arrives.

What You Can Do Now

You do not need to wait for 2028 to see Rwanda. For ideas on where to go, read our Rwanda travel guide, and for more trip ideas visit our adventure desk. The new airport is also close to the planned F1 circuit, if you are curious about that side of the story.

Quick FAQs

1. When will Bugesera International Airport open?

The first phase is targeted for 2028, but the date has slipped several times, so it may change.

2. How far is Bugesera airport from Kigali?

About 40 km south of Kigali, with a 14 km express road planned to connect them.

3. How much will the new airport cost?

Reports put the cost at around US$2 billion, up from an estimated US$1.3 billion in 2019.

4. Which airport do I use now?

Kigali International Airport, which remains the main gateway until the new airport opens.