Birth of Burundi Airlines
A new national carrier has been established in the Central African country, thirteen years after Air Burundi went out of business.
Burundi Airlines is the result of the merger of its almost forgotten predecessor, which was founded in 1975, and the handling company Sobugea. This project has been in the making since 2017. Besides the Burundian state (92%), the Société d'Assurance du Burundi (Socabu) and Sabena will hold a 4% share each.
According to Immaculate Ndabaneze, minister for trade, transport, industry and tourism (MCTIT), Burundi Airlines will start with a budget of the equivalent of EUR 6.34 million, but so far without aircraft. Its hub, Burumbura airport, currently only handles flights of Brussels Airlines, Ethiopian Airlines, Kenya Airways and Rwandair. (ah)