RwandAir is set to fly direct to Brussels from Kigali three times a week on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, beginning October, 31.

Flights from Brussels to Kigali will no longer operate via London, which will eliminate the requirement for non-Schengen citizens to hold a UK transit visa and to disembark for re-screening at Gatwick Airport in London.

Previously the route ran Kigali-London-Brussels-London-Kigali, it will now operate Kigali-Brussels-London-Brussels-Kigali.

The new schedule was made possible through negotiations with Gatwick Airport for an earlier slot out of London, enabling RwandAir’s aircraft to return to Brussels ahead of the jet ban.

RwandAir acting CEO, Chance Ndagano, said: “We are confident that the new schedule will improve the experience of our clients boarding from Brussels, while maintaining our schedule from London with only one stop in Brussels.”

Passengers embarking from London Gatwick will stay on board at Zaventem Airport in Brussels and will not need a Schengen transit visa.

RwandAir’s Airbus A330s are configured in three classes with inflight connectivity and will continue to operate the Brussels-Gatwick route and connect across Africa via Kigali.