RWANDAIR has launched three times weekly direct flights from Johannesburg to Lusaka.
The Lusaka-Johannesburg route will all be operated by their Boeing 737-800 Next Generation dual class aircraft.
Speaking at the launch, Minister of Transport, Works, Supply and Communications Yamfwa Mukanga said Government is happy with the coming of RwandAir adding that the direct route gives Zambians an opportunity for an alternative.
The inaugural RwandAir flight Boeing 737-800 9XR-WG landed at 21:20 hours on Friday evening at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport.
“We are happy because Zambians have been given a chance to choose so that they get the best airline when going to Johannesburg,” Mr Mukanga said.
Mr Mukanga said the coming of RwandAir is significant because it shows that Zambia’s skies are becoming safe and reliable.
He said with the recently installed radar, Zambia will have an increased number of flights coming into the country.
Mr Mukanga said the RwandAir Lusaka-Johannesburg route will be sustained because of the ever growing clientele in the country.
And RwandAir director of flight operations captain Santos Pio thanked the two governments for having the vision of expanding network of operation and appreciating the need for connectivity between the two countries.
“We are very happy that we are here today. RwandAir has got a very superior inflight service and good on-time performance hitting 95 percent on time,” captain Pio said.
Captain Pio said RwandAir will all be operated by the Boeing 737-800 Next Generation dual class aircraft with guaranteed safety and comfort.
“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 16 other destinations in Africa and in the Middle East,” captain Pio said.
We supposed to be doing this as Zambia/ns…even the little that we have has been taken away because of a lack of political will these last twenty years or so…
In Zambia we think that any chakolwa can be president. Rwanda’s Paul Kagame is a stalwart of a president.
Were is Zambia Airways? My dear beloved country can be a joke sometimes.
Zambia is much a bigger country Economically and resources than Rwanda. Lack of seriousness in our leadership with no vision can not see the national carrier comeback. Let alone, how do u boost your tourism depending on other carriers??
Yamfwa is dull with no strategy or Ideas to make a business case for the national carrier. keep him out and bring people that can bring true change.
You guys are not serious. Zambians have been found to be the most undernourished in the world and yet you want to start borrowing money for a national airline. Ok, iyi so ni zimya neighbour but don’t worry about this and deal with what affects average citizens positively. Yaba!
“…said with the recently installed radar, Zambia will have an increased number of flights coming into the country…”
How does the installation of a radar increase air traffic flow into Zambia? Planes have always been landing and taking off even before the new radar came in. You’re truly Yamfwa Chipuba Mukanga.
They don’t seem to know what the talk about overtime they say something. Well beyond the understanding of this man
Honestly, Rwanda with such a smaller economy than Zambia has a national airline and us we have failled?
What you expect when you put a monkey -91(MHSRP) to incharge of a maize field. And this chakolwa :()
Rwanda has a leader, Zambia does not – that’s why.
This is good gives us good connection alternatives on our iterinary from Europe to Lusaka…more competition.
It’s Zambia where whenever foreign, it’s good! We need to remove this Curse! Yesterday news CEO for ZNBS requesting Chinese to help find cheap ways of building houses in Zambia, why can he go to CBU and UNZA for some worthwhile consultations and Solutions. This just shows the low calibre of some CEO, we don’t need such CEOs in this time and age.
RwandAir has been operating the Kigali-Johannesburg route for a couple of years now. They gave South Africa airways stiff enough competition that they were forced to lower their fees. I hope the same will happen on the Lusaka – Johannesburg route which is currently very expensive. Often I hear comments about the national airline being important for boosting of tourism. How? What is important is for the Zambian destinations, be it Lusaka, Livingstone or Ndola, to be serviced by frequent and affordable flights. The flag the flights carry is irrelevant. Having a national airline may bring some national pride but if we can’t operate an airline cost effectively then it is better we don’t have one. RwandAir is subsidized by the Rwandan government, just like SAA. Nothing to envy there!
Government doesn’t need to own an airline, we can’t afford one yet! I would compare Zambia owning an airline to a pompous man living in a rented two-room ramshackle in one of Lusaka’s high density townships who drives the latest Rover on the market acquired on higher purchase while his children go to public schools, eat one meal a day. For pride and status’ sake. No, Zambia cannot afford to tread that path again. The best our government can do is to allow a conducive business atmosphere and infrastructure development for private sector to manage aviation related business. There are Zambians with money who can run successful aviation companies in Zambia if the environment was right. Government does not respect local investment by extending those incentives enjoyed by foreign investors.
Little Rwanda now better than Big Zed in the Air.Hope you bloggers KNOW that Captain Santos Pio of Rwanda Air is ZAMBIAN,ex Zambia Airways,now operationally leading Rwandair.Another ex Zambia Airways pilot,Captain Derek Luembe,is leading another foreign Airline on the African west coast island country of Cape Verde.They could have been running Zambia Airways!!!!
Zambians are just dull and docile from their leaders downwards. You can’t compare Zambian leaders, except Mwanawasa, to Paul Kagame.
@ 10 jamakudi
I concur. The leaders we choose, are our undoing. We tend to go for the mediocre type.
Kagame is a killer with so many enemies, use RwandAir at your own peril. Never say you were not warned.
I repeat. Rwanda, a tiny country whose economy, internationa image was ruined just less than 20yrs ago has, by far beaten Zambia in many social & political arenas. Kagame holds that when there is no extravagance and corruption in Gvt the country reaps enormously! No Minister drives a gvt vehicle or owns a gvt cellphone on which thousands are paid for airtime (on calling bana Nono). Police officers do not expect to be bribed, he gives you aticket, you go pay at the bank (public officer corruption has a stiffer punishment). By 2018 Rwanda will connect every household to the grid. You will not find litter in Rwanda. Once a month Kagame leads the nation in manual work- cleaning their sorrounding (umrwanda). Yes, an airline is not impossible for Rwanda…….while we watch!
we zambians are only good at talking…
talk the talk and walk the walk!!!!!!!
with all our resources……shame on us….