The Rwandan national carrier has made aviation history by winning a major continental trophy in Ireland. RwandAir won the prestigious RwandAir Best Cabin Service award at the 2026 APEX Awards ceremony. The glamorous global event took place in Dublin on June 12, 2026. This celebration marks the first time that the expanding national airline has ever received this specific honor. The achievement officially recognizes the company as the leading provider of onboard hospitality across the entire African continent.
The Airline Passenger Experience Association organizes these annual global industry awards. The final results rely completely on direct feedback from passengers who took millions of flights worldwide. The survey carefully evaluated critical travel factors including cabin crew attentiveness, seat comfort, and in-flight entertainment. Travelers also scored internet connectivity, food and beverage quality, hospitality, and total customer care throughout their journeys.
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Aviation Industry Celebrates Rwandan Hospitality Excellence
The management team accepted the trophy during the busy APEX Future Travel Experience conference. This international gathering brings together prominent airline executives from Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Chief Executive Officer Yvonne Manzi Makolo spoke proudly about the achievement. She stated that the continental recognition reflects the incredible dedication of the cabin crew. She also emphasized the corporate commitment to delivering world-class service while strengthening the wider African aviation sector.
The Chief Executive Officer of the APEX Group, Dr. Joe Leader, highly praised the airline. He commended the staff for their exceptional hospitality, everyday professionalism, and customer-focused flight operations. This new trophy adds to a growing collection of accolades. The airline previously secured top honors at the 2025 World Airline Awards from Skytrax as the best regional airline in Africa. They also hold the respected APEX Diamond Health Safety Status.
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The Steady Expansion of the National Fleet
The carrier has achieved remarkable milestones since its initial launch over two decades ago. The government originally founded the business in 2002 under the name Rwandair Express. The board later rebranded the expanding company to its current name in 2009.
The enterprise has grown very rapidly over the subsequent years. The airline currently operates numerous reliable routes connecting passengers across Africa, Europe, and Asia. The modern fleet includes versatile Boeing 737 passenger jets, efficient Bombardier Q-400 aircraft, and large Airbus A330 planes to handle the growing international travel demand.
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Simon Richman (left), RwandAir’s Regional Director for the United Kingdom, Europe, and North America, receives the award from APEX Group CEO, Dr. Joe Leader.
