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.

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.

This 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 moments

00:00 — Why Yvonne hopes the next generation takes over

00:28 — Aviation and Africa’s unrealized potential Martine introduces the special aviation series and frames the broader question of why African aviation still underperforms.

00:51 — From technology to aviation Yvonne shares her unusual career path from geography and environmental science into IT, telecoms, and aviation.

02:33 — Entering a male-dominated industry She describes the shock of walking into a room full of “grey suits” at her first IATA AGM.

04:01 — The question women are always asked Yvonne explains why conversations about bringing more women into aviation should involve men too.

05:53 — Why Rwanda invested in a national airline She outlines the government’s deliberate decision to use aviation as a foundation for national development.

06:22 — How the airline supports Rwanda’s economy Tourism, exports, conferences, and sports tourism all benefit from the airline’s growth.

08:20 — Measuring the value of a loss-making airline Yvonne discusses how the airline’s wider contribution to the economy matters as much as profitability.

10:09 — Kigali as a hub More than half of passengers are transit travelers, showing how Kigali is becoming a regional connection point.

11:07 — Growth plans and new destinations RwandAir is already competing internationally and plans to expand to more long-haul destinations.

12:28 — Qatar Airways partnership

13:23 — The new airport and future hub ambitions

16:19 — Building aviation capacity in-house

18:37 — Investing in aviation skills She highlights the Center for Excellence for Aviation and the importance of training pilots, engineers, and cabin crew locally.

19:35 — Why African aviation is still underperforming We discuss high costs, taxes, restrictive policies, and the need for a mindset shift.

22:23 — Why progress is too slow Rwanda’s example shows what’s possible when the right policies are in place, but regional reform remains slow.

23:16 — Fuel costs and geopolitical pressure Yvonne talks about the impact of fuel prices and the need for more self-sufficiency in Africa.

24:36 — Navigating geopolitics She explains how aviation is shaped by regional tensions, including the closure of DRC airspace to Rwanda.

25:34 — Looking ahead Yvonne reflects on her future in the role and says it may be time for the younger generation to take over.

Notable quotes “I believe it’s time for the younger generation to take over.” “We contribute only 2% of global traffic, yet we’re 18% of the global population.” “Aviation is considered a luxury for the rich people.” “If this small country is able to achieve so much by prioritizing aviation… why can’t all the other countries do it?”