RwandAir will introduce flights between Kigali and Mumbai in December.

According to the airline’s CEO, John Mirenge, the Rwandan national carrier will operate four flights a week to Mumbai using its new A330-300 aircraft, which offers lie flat seats in business class.

Mirenge said RwandAir had already appointed India’s Bird Travel as the general sales agent to market the airline in the vast Indian market. He pointed out that, as part of RwandAir’s expansion strategy, in the last quarter of this year the airline would add six destinations in Africa and also commence long-haul operations to Guangzhou, China. This would be enabled by its acquisition of two wide-bodied A330s and two additional Boeing B737-800NGs.

Currently, the airline flies to 17 destinations in East, West and Southern Africa as well as to the Middle East.

Bird Travel Executive Vice President, Praful Khosla, said the company was happy to be associated with RwandAir as its exclusive GSA in India. “RwandAir is one of the fastest growing airlines on the African continent and has aggressive plans to connect India and Africa through its Kigali hub.

“We are looking forward to a great working association with RwandAir and are optimistic of making its online operations a success.”

Tourism Update is increasing its coverage of destinations outside South Africa. Do you have news in East Africa? Send your news to editor@tourismupdate.co.za.