RwandAir (WB, Kigali) is to receive its first converted B737-800(SF) narrowbody freighter currently undergoing test flights in Canada before being delivered to the central African country.

Still registered as EI-GYU (msn 35131), the 15.6 year-old jet is already in RwandAir livery, having completed its P2F conversion with KF Aerospace at Kelowna, Canada last month. According to the ch-aviation fleets module, the Boeing jet is owned by Merx Aviation Finance and was formerly operated by TUI Airways (BY, London Luton) as G-FDZB and Sunwing Airlines (WG, Toronto Pearson) as C-FPZB. Upon delivery, it will assume the Rwandan registration of 9XR-WX.

RwandAir Chief Executive Officer Yvonne Makolo was not immediately available to share more details on the airline's plans for the freighter.

As reported, the state-owned carrier, over the past couple of years, has been reviewing its renewal plan with a particular inclination towards narrowbodies with long haul capabilities.

Makolo told ch-aviation last year the flag carrier was keen to acquire a wide-body dedicated freighter in line with a new focus on cargo operations, which had been a mainstay during the pandemic.

RwandAir's existing fleet entails two B737-700s, four B737-800s, two Dash 8-400s, two CRJ900s, one A330-200, and one A330-300.