Rwandair will next month begin direct flights to Lusaka, John Mirenge, the chief executive officer, has said. Mirenge said the national carrier will launch its inaugural flight on March 27. The airline will have three weekly flights from Kigali to Lusaka on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
Mirenge said the flights have been incorporated into the Johannesburg route, and the airline will depart Lusaka on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
They will all be operated by our Boeing 737-800 Next Generation dual class aircraft with guaranteed safety and comfort, Mirenge said.
“We are delighted that the continent’s airspace is being opened for African carriers to take advantage of the opportunities therein. The Lusaka route will offer convenience and affordable flights to the passengers who will also take advantage of connections to sixteen other destinations in Africa and in the Middle East,” Mirenge said last week.
Kwizera Kalinganire, a Kigali based business man, said that flying to Lusaka will open up and strengthen business relatioships between Rwanda and Zambia.
RwandAir launched direct flights on the Entebbe-Nairobi route a fortnight ago after acquiring the fifth freedom in Nairobi.
The airline is also expecting the delivery of a second brand new dual class Bombardier Q400 Next Generation aircraft.
Recently the airline was ranked one of the safest across the globe after passing the International Air Transport Association (IATA) operational safety audit.
Mirenge is awaiting another certification, “the IATA safety audit for ground operations expected to be completed by June 2016.”
If you do not something about a vacant situation others will do something about it and fill in vacuum. This should have been a slot for a Zambian Air carrier.
Sorry insert”do” between not and something.
When Zambians sit in the USA & UK and argue that we should not have a national carrier other wise countries see business in flying into Lusaka. What a shame of Zambia and we Zambians.
Talk is cheap … Let’s stop talking about an airline, just do it!!!!
Yes…good this is the way forward not wasting taxpayer’s funds on nostalgic national airline! !
Thanks to Rwada Air for this milestone and to the Zambian governemnt. This should foster trade between the two nations. I hope Zambians will see this an opportunity to invest in Rwanda and Burundi.
During the presidential campaigns, Edgar visited Nigeria, Zimbabwe and Rwanda for campaign funds. Am sure this is part of the reward for Rwanda. We are yet to see the rewards for Mugabe and Boko Haram.
Going by our past history, Zed does not deserve a national carrier. That will be a shear waste of resources. Remember ZA? People ate to the point of vomiting on their shoes. Air Hostesses had free rides to Rome etc.. I remember also getting on one of the planes to Rome free of charge, You hear me free of charge!!!