RwandAir adds to network expansion plans

RWANDAIR has set its
sights on introducing
flights to the US by next
year, weeks after announcing
the introduction of a second
Johannesburg-Kigali flight (see
TNW November 30).
As part of its international
routes expansion programme,
the airline’s ceo, John
Mirenge, said the carrier
planned to open a new route
from Kigali to New York,
adding that the airline planned
to acquire a new A350 XWB
wide-body aircraft for the
Kigali-US route.
The airline is also
considering flying to the new
Victoria Falls International
Airport in Zimbabwe after
taking a recent tour of the
facilities. “We are going
back to work with our travel
partners to package Harare,
Victoria Falls and other
destinations,” said John. There
are no timelines for the launch
of the new route as yet.
In the first quarter of next
year, the airline hopes to
introduce services from
Kigali to London Gatwick and
Mumbai. It has also set its
sights on a Kigali-Washington,
DC service in 2018 and
wants to add Guangzhou to
its route network, although
a launch date has not yet
been set (see TNW November
23). The airline will also add
its Kigali-Durban service,
initially intended to commence
this year, to its early 2017
schedule. 