Rwanda has ratified air services agreements with nine countries, including the United Kingdom, but the agreements will take effect only after the countries involved complete the required approval procedures.
The agreements were published in Rwanda’s Official Gazettes on October 6, 7 and 8, 2026, following parliamentary approval and presidential ratification.
Besides the UK, the countries covered are Algeria, Azerbaijan, Botswana, Costa Rica, Guyana, Morocco, Senegal and Trinidad and Tobago.
The agreements establish arrangements for international air transport between Rwanda and the respective countries, setting out the conditions under which airlines may operate services.
The agreement with the UK is particularly significant because RwandAir already operates flights between Kigali and London.
The national carrier moved its London operations from Gatwick Airport to Heathrow when it resumed services to the UK in October 2020.
The latest ratification does not introduce flights between the two countries for the first time. Instead, it provided a formal legal framework governing air services between Rwanda and the UK.
Under the agreement, airlines designated by either country would be permitted to operate scheduled passenger and cargo services on agreed routes, including flights with intermediate stops and onward destinations.
The agreement also allows designated airlines to determine ticket prices, flight frequencies and capacity, subject to applicable aviation regulations and operational requirements.
Airlines would also be able to establish offices, sell tickets and transfer earnings abroad under the conditions outlined in the agreement.
Other provisions address customs duty exemptions for aircraft and certain aviation supplies, including fuel and spare parts used in international operations.
The agreement also establishes aviation safety and security requirements and procedures for resolving disputes.
The UK agreement was signed in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, on November 10, 2025, by Prosper Higiro on behalf of Rwanda and Mike Bosly on behalf of the British government.
Rwanda’s Parliament approved its ratification through Law No. 051/2026, while President Paul Kagame ratified it through Presidential Order No. 064/01 of September 9, 2026.
The other agreements were signed separately between 2025 and 2026, covering countries in Africa, Europe, Asia, the Caribbean and South America.
Although Rwanda has completed its ratification process, the agreements do not automatically become operational. Their entry into force depends on the procedures specified in each agreement.
For the UK agreement, both governments must notify each other through diplomatic channels that they have completed their respective constitutional procedures before the agreement can take effect.
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