Bugesera International Airport (under construction)

Not Applicable. The airport is not closed; it is being built to replace an existing, capacity-constrained airport.

The site at coordinates -2.1444, 30.1835 is an active, large-scale construction zone. The project, which began construction around 2017, is a joint venture between the Government of Rwanda and Qatar Airways, with the latter holding a 60% stake. The design has been upgraded to handle significantly more passengers and cargo than originally planned. The ICAO code 'RW-0002' is a temporary or non-standard identifier; an official ICAO code will be assigned by the relevant authorities closer to its operational date.

The airport has no operational history. Its significance lies entirely in its future role. It is being constructed to become Rwanda's primary international gateway, replacing the current Kigali International Airport (KGL/HRYR), which is limited by its hilltop location and surrounding urban development. The new airport is a key component of Rwanda's 'Vision 2050' national strategy, intended to establish the country as a major hub for tourism, trade, logistics, and air travel in Africa, and to facilitate the expansion of the national carrier, RwandAir.

The airport is not reopening, but is instead projected to open for the first time. The project is being built in phases. Due to redesigns and other factors, the opening date has been revised multiple times. Current estimates project the completion of the first phase and the start of operations to be around 2027-2028.