Bugesera International Airport 3.09

Bugesera International Airport is an airport under construction in Rwanda.LocationBugesera Airport is located in southeastern Rwanda, in Bugesera District, near the town of Rilima. This location is approximately 25km, by air, and about 40km, by road, south of Kigali International Airport. The approximate coordinates of Bugesera International Airport are: 02°08'09.0"S, 30°11'00.0"E (Latitude:-2.135833; Longitude:30.183333). Bugesera International Airport is situated at an altitude of 1400m above sea level.OverviewBugesera International Airport will become Rwanda's largest International Airport, serving commercial flights destined to and from the greater Kigali metropolitan area. When completed, it will become Rwanda's third International Airport, and the country's 8th airport overall. It will complement Kigali International Airport, which is now operating at maximum capacity.The airport will initially have a single paved runway. During the second phase of construction, a second runway will be added. The estimated cost for Phase I is US$418 million, while Phase II is budgeted to cost US$382 million, for a total of US$800 million. It is anticipated that Phase I will be completed in 2018. The British engineering firm, TPS Consult Plc., to carry out a feasibility study and design the new airport. According to the TPS report, the new airport would be able to handle one million passengers and 150 million tonnes of cargo annually during its first phase. Subsequent phases will follow with higher passenger and cargo capacities. In November 2010, press reports indicated that the Rwanda government had retained the International accounting firm Pricewaterhousecoopers, to provide financial advice and lead the search for funding of the project. The government wants to develop Bugesera Airport as a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) project.