The national carrier of Burundi, established in April 1971 as the Service des Transports Aeriens du Burundi and renamed in June 1975, headquartered in Bujumbura with Bujumbura International Airport as its main base and a fleet built around the MA60 turboprop and the Beech 1900C. It once operated regional sectors to Kigali and Entebbe and took delivery of its first MA60 from AVIC International and Xi'an Aircraft International in June 2012. Flight operations have been suspended since 5 September 2009; the published business is ground handling, cargo assistance, refuelling and agency ticket sales, providing ground support to passenger and cargo flights arriving at Bujumbura. No direct cargo flights between mainland China and Burundi are published, so Chinese cargo usually transits an East African or Middle Eastern hub to Bujumbura before distribution.
Chinese-language service provider: Goodhope Logistics (China) Limited, handling booking, customs declaration and end-to-end logistics for international air freight, on routes from China to Africa and all major continents.
Air Burundi (IATA two-letter code 8Y, ICAO three-letter code PBU, radio call sign AIR-BURUNDI) is the national carrier of Burundi. It was established in April 1971 as the Service des Transports Aeriens du Burundi, took its present name in June 1975 and is wholly owned by the Burundian government. Head office and main base are in Bujumbura, at Melchior Ndadaye International Airport (BJM/HBBA).
Historically the airline operated within East Africa, with published points including Kigali and Entebbe, and in 2008 it ran a daily Kigali to Entebbe service. The fleet has spanned the Caravelle, DC-3, DHC-6 Twin Otter, Beech 1900 and MA60. On 18 June 2012 the airline took delivery of its first MA60 turboprop regional airliner from AVIC International and Xi'an Aircraft International; the aircraft arrived at Bujumbura International Airport on 28 June that year and became the main type in the fleet.
Public sources show the company suspended flight operations on 5 September 2009. After the suspension it retained and continued its airport support role: published activities include ground handling for carriers such as Ethiopian Airlines and RwandAir, cargo assistance for scheduled and non-scheduled cargo flights, into-plane refuelling, and reservation and ticket sales agency for other carriers operating at Bujumbura International Airport.
On China: published sources list no route to mainland China or Hong Kong and no office of its own in China. Burundi is a landlocked East African country and no direct cargo flights between mainland China and Burundi are published; the usual path for Chinese cargo is a flight from a Chinese airport to Addis Ababa, Nairobi or a Middle Eastern hub, a connection on East African regional capacity to Bujumbura, and road distribution onward. Air Burundi's place in the chain is arrival-side ground support, not mainline capacity.
| Airline | Air Burundi |
| Company type | National carrier (flights suspended since 2009, airport support role retained) |
| Country | Burundi |
| Global headquarters | 40 Commercial Avenue, Bujumbura, Burundi, BP 2460 |
| Hub airport | Bujumbura International Airport (BJM/HBBA, Melchior Ndadaye International Airport) |
| Year established | April 1971 (as Service des Transports Aeriens du Burundi; renamed June 1975) |
| Flights suspended | Suspended from 5 September 2009 |
| IATA two-letter code | 8Y |
| ICAO three-letter code | PBU |
| Radio call sign | AIR-BURUNDI |
| Air waybill prefix | No publicly available information that can be cross-checked |
| Official lookup website | flyairburundi.com; public sources also list burundiairlines.bi |
| Cargo aircraft | Published fleet: 1 MA60 (52 seats) and 1 Beech 1900C; no freighters listed |
| China services | No China routes or directly owned China office are publicly listed |
The information above is compiled from public sources. Operating status and scope may change; the carrier's latest announcements govern.
Public sources show the company provides cargo assistance to scheduled and non-scheduled cargo flights arriving at Bujumbura, covering coordination at aircraft arrival, loading and the cargo terminal, a key support link once a cargo flight lands.
The company provides ground handling for other carriers operating at Bujumbura International Airport, with Ethiopian Airlines and RwandAir listed publicly, covering arrival and departure ground work.
Public sources show the company performs into-plane refuelling for aircraft arriving at Bujumbura. Refuelling capacity bears directly on turnaround time and therefore on the pace of cargo connections.
The company acts as reservation and ticket sales agent for other carriers operating at Bujumbura International Airport, with tickets delivered online where required, giving passengers and shippers a connection channel through Bujumbura.
Role: the company has not flown since 2009 and no current scheduled passenger or cargo operation is listed, so its cargo role is arrival-side support rather than mainline capacity. For Chinese cargo destined for Burundi, the mainline leg must be flown by another carrier with East African capacity, and the cargo terminal and ground work at Bujumbura are handled by the company and the relevant ground agents. Volume decisions and transit planning must be made separately for the mainline flight and the ground support available.
The fleet is mainly turboprop. Public sources list one MA60 turboprop regional airliner and one Beech 1900C. The MA60 is a twin-turboprop high-wing type with a published reference seating of 52, delivered in June 2012 from AVIC International and Xi'an Aircraft International and the main type in the fleet; the Beech 1900C is a twin turboprop with a published reference seating of 19, suited to shorter sectors with low passenger demand. The airline has also operated the Caravelle, DC-3, DHC-6 Twin Otter and Beech 1900 over a fleet history spanning more than half a century, with changes in aircraft mix tracking changes in where the airline flew.
| Aircraft type | Number | Category | Platform characteristics (public reference values) | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MA60 | 1 aircraft | Twin-engine turboprop | High-wing, 52 seats, delivered 2012 by AVIC International and Xi'an Aircraft International | East Africa regional sector (flights suspended) |
| Beechcraft 1900C | 1 aircraft | Twin-engine turboprop | 19 seats, higher sector speed and range than light types | East Africa regional sector (flights suspended) |
The table is compiled from public sources; the platform data are published reference values for the type, not the payload available on a given aircraft. Flight operations have been suspended since 2009, so serviceability, airworthiness status and cargo capability must be confirmed with the carrier shipment by shipment.
The chart compares fleet numbers as published. The small fleet and the suspension of flight operations are the basic facts for judging whether the airline can carry cargo at all.
| Suitable stages | Ground handling at Bujumbura for freighter flights and belly cargo, including aircraft arrival, loading and cargo terminal coordination |
| Cargo types handled | Mechanical and electrical products, pharmaceuticals and medical supplies, project spares and relief goods arriving in Bujumbura via an East African hub |
| Carrier role | Published as cargo assistance and ground support; no current scheduled cargo operation of its own is listed |
| Temperature-controlled cargo types | Public sources do not list a separate temperature-controlled zone, so each shipment must be confirmed individually |
| Available capacity | Fleet of 1 MA60 and 1 Beech 1900C, flights suspended; serviceability must be confirmed shipment by shipment |
| Out-of-gauge cargo | Cargo beyond hold dimensions or piece weight limits cannot be loaded; provide pieces, weight and dimensions in advance for review by the carrier or ground agent |
The chart shows published reference seat counts for the aircraft types involved, which illustrates the difference in seating class between them. The figures are type reference values, not the cargo capacity of an individual aircraft; usable payload has to be calculated after deducting fuel and passenger weight on the flight.
Public sources list no routes operated by the company in mainland China or Hong Kong, and no directly owned office in China. No direct freighter service between mainland China and Burundi is publicly listed.No public information availableCargo originating in China usually transits via Addis Ababa, Nairobi or a Middle East hub to Bujumbura before onward distribution.
Head office and main base are at Bujumbura International Airport (BJM/HBBA), located in Bujumbura, Burundi's economic centre and largest city. Public sources list about 89,000 passengers in 2013; the runway is asphalt, 3,600 m long, and takes turboprops and narrowbody aircraft. The company provides ground handling and cargo assistance at the airport.
Public sources show the company provides ground handling at Bujumbura International Airport for carriers including Ethiopian Airlines and RwandAir, cargo assistance for scheduled and non-scheduled cargo flights, refuelling and reservation agency. Ground work for cargo flights arriving at the airport is handled by the company and the relevant ground agents.
| Destinations | Airport code | Country | Service type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bujumbura | BJM | Burundi | Main base, ground handling center and company headquarters |
| Kigali | KGL | Rwanda | Historic regional destination, now served by other carriers |
| Entebbe | EBB | Uganda | Historic regional destination, now served by other carriers |
| Dar es Salaam | DAR | Tanzania | East African connection point for transit toward the Indian Ocean |
| Nairobi | NBO | Kenya | East African hub gateway and a common transit point for Chinese cargo |
| Addis Ababa | ADD | Ethiopia | East African hub gateway; scheduled services to Bujumbura connect through this hub |
| Kinshasa direction | — | Democratic Republic of the Congo | Regional connection point; public sources do not list the specific airport code |
| Mainland China and Hong Kong | — | China | No public information on freight flights |
Point attributes are compiled from public sources; times are local. Kigali and Entebbe are historical points, with flights suspended since 2009; schedules and capacity at other connection points are published by the current carriers and confirmed on the day of booking.
Burundi is a landlocked East African country, the company does not serve China and its flights are suspended, so cargo from China moves in two legs: a first leg from a Chinese airport through an East African or Middle Eastern hub, and a second leg on regional capacity to Bujumbura, with ground work on arrival handled by Air Burundi and the relevant ground agents. The value sits at the arrival end: handing cargo arriving through the hub smoothly to the terminal, completing ground work around clearance and distributing inland.
Operational note:For traffic to East Africa or the Middle East we match capacity with the main carrier on the relevant route. For cargo destined to Burundi, confirm the final delivery city and individual piece dimensions at booking stage, and confirm ground handling on the arrival leg; we quote on a single basis and handle customs declaration and the handover between legs.
| Corporate headquarters | 40 Commercial Avenue, Bujumbura, Burundi, BP 2460 Bujumbura |
| Company telephone | +257 22 269 417 |
| Business email | info@flyairburundi.com |
| Official lookup website | flyairburundi.com; public sources also list burundiairlines.bi |
| Scope of cover | Ground handling, cargo assistance, refuelling and reservation agency at Bujumbura International Airport |
| Successor arrangements | From February 2021 the company's assets were merged into the new national carrier Air Burundi; the relevant functions are governed by the new carrier's current announcements |
| China contact | No China office is publicly listed. Contact the airline's local agent in China, or ask us to coordinate on your behalf.No public information available |
| Information note | Contact details and office hours may change, so check the carrier's latest publication before handover |
The company has no published office of its own in China and its flights are suspended, so a shipper cannot book with it directly in China. A local agent in China can handle booking and clearance for the first leg and the regional sector and liaise with the Burundian ground agent on arrival work and inland distribution. Having a forwarder that knows African trade flows coordinate this mainly helps in the following ways:
The company is the national carrier wholly owned by the Burundian government, its IATA and ICAO codes are still held, and its ground support role at Bujumbura airport has an institutional basis, giving continuity in handling arriving cargo flights.
Public sources show the company provides cargo assistance for scheduled and non-scheduled cargo flights, covering coordination at aircraft arrival and loading, making it the direct ground contact for cargo arriving at Bujumbura.
Ground handling, cargo assistance, refuelling and reservation agency all sit with one entity, so turnaround coordination is concentrated and time on the apron and in the terminal on arrival can be shortened.
Published ground handling customers include Ethiopian Airlines and RwandAir, both main regional carriers into Bujumbura, and that cooperation directly shapes arrival-side work.
The fleet has spanned the Caravelle, DC-3, Twin Otter, Beech 1900 and MA60, and the airline once served East African points such as Kigali and Entebbe, so its experience of operating in inland East Africa is fairly complete.
Public sources show flight operations suspended since 2009no current flights, with no scheduled cargo operation of its own listed; fleet serviceability must be confirmed shipment by shipment, and it has no mainline capacity of its own and is not suitable as the carrier for volume shipments.
What it can and cannot do: the company's strength is arrival-side ground support at Bujumbura airport, the combination of cargo assistance, ground handling and refuelling. For volume cargo destined for Burundi, we normally use another carrier for the mainline from China to an East African or Middle Eastern hub, a carrier with East African capacity for the sector into Bujumbura, and the company and relevant ground agents for arrival work, costing each stage separately.
Bujumbura International Airport sits in Burundi's economic centre; public sources list an asphalt runway 3,600 m long and 45 m wide and about 89,000 passengers in 2013. The airport is on the eastern shore of Lake Tanganyika, close to the city, so road distances for distributing arriving cargo to the city and surrounding areas are short.
Burundi is a landlocked East African country; surface access for imports and exports runs mainly through the corridor to Dar es Salaam in Tanzania and the corridors via Rwanda and Uganda. Air access is concentrated at Bujumbura International Airport, with connections through hubs such as Addis Ababa and Nairobi, so time-critical cargo keeps a steady share on air.
No direct cargo flights between mainland China and Burundi are published, and Burundi has no published scheduled freighter service, so air cargo relies mainly on the belly holds of scheduled passenger flights. Cargo from China usually flies from a Chinese airport to Addis Ababa, Nairobi or a Middle Eastern hub and then to Bujumbura; arrival-side ground work is handled by Air Burundi and the relevant ground agents.
On the published trade structure, Chinese exports to East African countries are mainly mechanical and electrical products, building materials, light consumer goods and construction machinery parts, while imports are mainly minerals, agricultural produce and coffee. Air cargo arriving in Bujumbura is largely engineering spares, pharmaceuticals and relief supplies, and piece size and weight must match belly hold and road transport limits.
After booking confirmation, submit the air waybill consignee details, commercial invoice and packing list as the carrier requires. For cargo delivered beyond Bujumbura, state the final city and unloading arrangements in the plan and confirm the consignee can clear customs and move cargo locally; our quotation itemizes export clearance at origin, mainline air freight, the regional sector and delivery at destination.
In February 2021 the Burundian government decided to merge Air Burundi's assets with SOBUGEA to form Air Burundi, and how codes and support functions carry over is governed by the carrier's current announcements. Before shipping, shippers should confirm the currently valid contacts and code information through official channels or through us, so that changes do not disrupt the transport plan.
Air Burundi is the national carrier of Burundi, established in 1971 with head office and main base in Bujumbura. It once served East African sectors such as Kigali and Entebbe, has been suspended since September 2009, and its published business is ground handling, cargo assistance, refuelling and reservation agency.
Public sources list the IATA two-letter code as 8Y, the ICAO three-letter code as PBU and the radio call sign as AIR-BURUNDI; no air waybill prefix or settlement code can be cross-checked publicly. The base airport code is BJM and the ICAO airport code is HBBA. Before booking, verify the currently valid codes and settlement details with the carrier or an authorized agent.
Public sources list no routes operated by the company in mainland China or Hong Kong, and no directly owned China office. No direct freighter service between mainland China and Burundi is publicly listed; Chinese shippers can contact its local agent in China or ask us to coordinate.
Public sources show the company provides cargo assistance to scheduled and non-scheduled cargo flights arriving at Bujumbura, covering coordination at aircraft arrival and loading; ground handling customers include Ethiopian Airlines and RwandAir, and it also refuels aircraft and acts as reservation agent. Arrival arrangements for cargo flights should be confirmed with the carrier and ground agent in advance.
Public sources list one MA60 (52 seats) and one Beech 1900C (19 seats), with no freighter and flights suspended since 2009. Serviceability, airworthiness status and cargo capability must be confirmed with the carrier shipment by shipment; current capacity should not be assumed.
Arrival handling is arranged by flight batch and cargo type: regular belly cargo can arrive on scheduled passenger flights and be handed over at the cargo terminal, while non-scheduled freighter flights should have arrival slots and unloading agreed with the ground agent in advance; distribution to inland cities is mainly by road, with road conditions and vehicle loading capacity checked at the same time.
Goodhope Logistics (China) Limited, based in Shenzhen, China, specializes in international air freight from China to Africa and other major world markets. We design air freight plans for Burundi and East Africa, with departures from major Chinese airports, transit through Addis Ababa, Nairobi or a Middle Eastern hub to Bujumbura, and arrival support and inland road distribution through Air Burundi and the relevant ground agents, covering quotation, customs clearance, air carriage, clearance and delivery. Transport plans and quotations are available on request.
Disclaimer:Prepared by Goodhope Logistics (China) Limited (Goodhope Freight). Airline names, codes, trademarks and brand marks mentioned here belong to their respective owners. We are an independent international freight forwarder and have no affiliation, agency or investment relationship with this airline. The information is compiled from public sources for reference only and does not form a contract of carriage or a service commitment. Space, rates and schedules are subject to actual confirmation by the carrier or its authorized agent on the day of booking.