Africa: 18% Global Population but Only 2% the World's Flights: RwandAir CEO Yvonne Makolo Explains

Africa has 18% of the world's population and only 2% of its air traffic. RwandAir CEO Yvonne Makolo says the continent did that to itself.I speak to Yvonne about her nine years running Rwanda's national carrier — an airline that still isn't profitable, in a country of 15 million people with almost no outbound travel market, at a time when most African flag carriers have collapsed.She explains why Rwanda decided to build an airline anyway, how Kigali became a transit hub where more than half of passengers are just passing through, and that the long-delayed Qatar deal is still going through. She's blunt about what's holding African aviation back: taxes, fees, closed skies, restrictive visas, and a mindset that treats flying as a luxury for the rich.On being one of very few women running an airline, she has a sharp answer to the question she says she's always asked.And after nine years in the job, I ask her whether she'll still be doing it in ten.Yvonne says the question she's always asked — "what will you do to bring more women into aviation?" — is aimed at the wrong person. What did you make of her answer?Yvonne explains how Rwanda has used aviation as a strategic pillar for growth, why Kigali has become a growing transit hub, and how the airline’s ambitions tie into the country’s broader economy. She also reflects on the challenges facing African aviation, from high fees and restrictive visas to infrastructure gaps and geopolitical tensions.TagsRwandAir, Yvonne Makolo, African aviation, Kigali, Bugesera airport, Qatar Airways, Qatar Investment Authority, Ethiopian Airlines, open skies, Yamoussoukro Decision, IATA, AfCFTA, Rwanda, women in aviation, airline CEO, Africa Here and Now, Martine DennisThis is part of Africa Here & Now's special series on aviation including conversations with: Mesfin Tasew of Ethiopian Airlines, Kamil Al Alawadhi of IATA, Allen Onyema of Air Peace, Henok Teferra Shawl of Boeing Africa, Adefunke Adeyemi of AFCAC, and Nigeria's aviation minister Festus Keyamo.Key moments00:00 — Why Yvonne hopes the next generation takes over00:28 — Aviation and Africa’s unrealized potentialMartine introduces the special aviation series and frames the broader question of why African aviation still underperforms.00:51 — From technology to aviationYvonne shares her unusual career path from geography and environmental science into IT, telecoms, and aviation.02:33 — Entering a male-dominated industryShe describes the shock of walking into a room full of “grey suits” at her first IATA AGM.04:01 — The question women are always askedYvonne explains why conversations about bringing more women into aviation should involve men too.05:53 — Why Rwanda invested in a national airlineShe outlines the government’s deliberate decision to use aviation as a foundation for national development.06:22 — How the airline supports Rwanda’s economyTourism, exports, conferences, and sports tourism all benefit from the airline’s growth.08:20 — Measuring the value of a loss-making airlineYvonne discusses how the airline’s wider contribution to the economy matters as much as profitability.10:09 — Kigali as a hubMore than half of passengers are transit travelers, showing how Kigali is becoming a regional connection point.11:07 — Growth plans and new destinationsRwandAir is already competing internationally and plans to expand to more long-haul destinations.12:28 — Qatar Airways partnership13:23 — The new airport and future hub ambitions16:19 — Building aviation capacity in-house18:37 — Investing in aviation skills19:35 — Why African aviation is still underperforming22:23 — Why progress is too slowRwanda’s example shows what’s possible when the right policies are in place, but regional reform remains slow.23:16 — Fuel costs and geopolitical pressure24:36 — Navigating geopolitics25:34 — Looking aheadYvonne reflects on her future in the role and says it may be time for the younger generation to take over. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.