Rwanda has brought into force a new set of bilateral air service agreements with 12 countries after the publication of related laws and presidential orders in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Rwanda on December 19, 2025.
The agreements cover Eswatini, Guinea, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Zimbabwe, Georgia, France, Poland, Oman, Suriname, and Canada. They aim to strengthen Rwanda’s international air connectivity and align its aviation regime with globally recognised standards.
At the centre of the agreements is a legal framework governing how airlines designated by Rwanda and its partner states may operate international air services to, from, and beyond their territories. Each country may appoint one or more airlines on agreed routes, replace those carriers as necessary, and authorise them to commence operations once regulatory conditions are met.
Safety and security are core pillars of the arrangements. Certificates of airworthiness, crew licences, and competency documents issued by one party are recognised by the other, provided they meet the minimum standards set out in the Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation. At the same time, each state retains the right to enforce its own safety oversight requirements for flights operating within its airspace. The agreements also commit both parties to cooperate in preventing and responding to unlawful acts against civil aviation, in accordance with international conventions.
The agreements also seek to create a competitive operating environment. Designated airlines from both sides are guaranteed fair and equal opportunities, with the freedom to determine flight frequency, capacity, and aircraft type based on commercial considerations and market demand. Governments are generally restricted from imposing unilateral limits on capacity or frequency, except for technical, safety, or regulatory reasons applied non-discriminately.
On the commercial front, airlines may establish offices in partner countries, sell tickets directly or through agents, and employ managerial, technical, and commercial staff as required. They may sell passenger and cargo services in local or freely convertible currencies and are guaranteed the right to convert and repatriate revenues earned from their operations without restriction or undue delay, subject to applicable exchange regulations.
The agreements provide extensive tax and customs relief for international operations. Aircraft, fuel, spare parts, technical supplies, catering, and onboard stores used exclusively for international air services are exempt from customs duties, excise taxes, and similar charges. Baggage and cargo in direct transit also benefit from duty-free treatment. At the same time, income, profits, capital assets, and gains derived from international air transport operations are protected from taxation in the territory of the other contracting party.
Rwanda and its partner countries also commit to providing access to airports, air navigation services, security facilities, and related infrastructure on terms no less favourable than those offered to other airlines. Charges for airport use, air navigation, and security services must be reasonable, transparent, cost-related, and applied without discrimination. Airlines may undertake their own ground handling or contract authorised service providers, subject to uniform safety and operational requirements.
Fares for international air services are set by airlines based on market conditions, with government intervention limited to preventing anti-competitive practices, protecting consumers from unreasonably high fares, and guarding against predatory pricing. Although tariffs are not subject to mandatory filing, airlines may be required to provide aviation authorities with information on historical, current, or proposed fares upon request.
The agreements also allow airlines to enter into commercial cooperation arrangements, including code-sharing, capacity-sharing, and joint ventures, with airlines from either contracting state or third countries, subject to approval and transparency requirements.
They apply to both scheduled and unscheduled services, including charter flights, and allow authorities to request traffic and operational data for oversight purposes. Any disputes arising from the agreements are to be addressed through consultation, diplomatic channels, or arbitration, with binding outcomes and provisions that allow for the suspension of rights if obligations are not met.
