(DTIS) Update, Volume 1 – Main report - Enhanced Integrated ...

Air connectivity, while limited in Burundi, is much denser in the broader region (Figures 5.13a and5.13b). Nairobi is the most connected regional airport, followed by Dar es Salaam and Entebbe. Nairobihas many more flights, including direct flights to many major export markets, and handles many types ofwide-bodied aircraft that provide much more capacity for export. A public-private partnership wasrecently formed at Nairobi to lease land for a freight terminal with a capacity of 300,000 – 600,000 tonsper annum. This will dramatically increase the airport’s ability to support trade in fresh and other highvalue products. At the same time, Nairobi benefits with Kenya Airways from one of the most successfulairlines in Africa, which handles 70% of the East African market. Kenya Airways flies code share flightswith KLM, thus expanding its geographic range and market. It has routes to Europe, West Africa, theMiddle East and Asia. It is therefore important to approach Burundi’s connectivity to global markets notjust by considering options within the country, but also those in neighboring countries. This places evenmore demand on the necessity of further improving the performance and reliability of regional landtransport corridors.Of course, this approach is premised on trade patterns that continue to be oriented outside Africa.However, some of the fastest growth rates in trade in the region have been towards South Sudan and toEastern DRC. It is therefore important to look also at connectivity to these other countries, which havenot traditionally been among major trade partners for Burundi. As such, another option to increasevolumes through Bujumbura might be to develop Bujumbura as a conduit for air cargo destined foreastern DRC or the Kigoma region and the economic areas of Lake Tanganyika. This will howeverrequire significant improvements in the general performance of all aspects of logistics in the country.Figure 5.13a: Burundi air transportconnections (scheduled flights)Figure 5.13b: Regional hub connectionsSource: Author’s estimations, based on DIIO dataOne of the reasons for Burundi’s poor air connectivity is the poor performance of the (only)national airline, Air Burundi. It is a very small airline with one operational aircraft, which is notreliable. It operated scheduled air services to Tanzania and Rwanda, but ceased operations in 2009 afterits aircraft had reached its maximal flight time and had to undergo maintenance. The government hassince then been keen on restructuring the airline, as a way to revive and expand its operations. Therestructuring process of Air Burundi is currently underway and intended to lead to privatization of theairline. Privatization and other alliances are trends in the airline industry that have seen the emergence ofprosperous airlines, such as Ethiopian Airlines and Kenya Airways. Recent decision taken by the councilof Ministers has open the way for a privatization process of Air Burundi. Clearly the process should be103 / 153