RwandAir connects Mombasa to Dubai
RwandAir has gradually increased its fleet from just thrice a week to four weekly non-stop flights to Kigali, Kenya and Mombasa since it started Dubai operations in November 2010. Timothy Njihia, Country Manager – UAE shares some insight.
QTell us about the recent fleer upgrade by RwandAir?
We have acquired two new A330s (A330-200 and A330-300) equipped with full flat beds in Business Class, inflight connectivity and inflight entertainment across the entire cabin. It is a first in East Africa, with unmatched luxurious comfort. The two aircraft arriving will serve different routes — A330-200 will serve Dubai, Lagos & Accra routes; and A330-300 will serve Mumbai and Guangzhou routes.
The A330-200 will have 244 seats while the A330300 will have 274 seats.
RwandAir is the only direct airline to Kigali and Mombasa with on-time performance, no prior record of accidents, additional free baggage allowance (2 pieces of 23 kgs on Economy and 2 pieces of 32 kgs on Business Class) and free visas for transit passengers in Kigali.
QHow important is UAE market for the airline?
UAE is important for RwandAir due to its dynamism as a hub for global commerce coupled with its strategic location in relation to Africa. The UAE was important in unlocking Rwanda’s trade linkages and opportunities. Interestingly, a huge percentage of our traffic to Dubai consists mostly of African traders conducting business into/out of Dubai and there continues to be demand on this route hence our new wide body aircraft on this route.
QHow does RwandAir contribute in tourism promotion between the two destinations?
First, RwandAir proactively promotes inbound leisure into Dubai from across our network by encouraging network sales into Dubai, promoting leisure and trade as well and secondly by encouraging leisure and MICE tourism into Rwanda. Rwanda’s tourism sector continues to grow and has been recording impressive growth over the years, with MICE leading the way.
It is worth noting that Rwanda is currently ranked 7th in the most popular MICE destinations in Africa according to a report released in May 2016 by the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA).
From Dubai, one of our strategies is identifying, targeting and continuously specific groups of people such as media, tour operators, travel writers etc. These groups of people are important in creating awareness about Rwanda as a country, its tourism potential and standing in Africa or the world and not forgetting the airline and its route network.
With the arrival of our new aircraft, we plan to hold exclusive familiarisation trips targeting the groups mentioned above to Kigali, Rwanda, the hub and home to RwandAir and a country whose green, mountainous landscape has earned it the nickname ‘Land of a Thousand Hills.’
A huge percentage of our traffic to Dubai consists mostly of African traders conducting business into/out of Dubai
QDo you have any other route enhancements in the pipeline?
We recently launched flights to Cotonou in Benin effective September 2, 2016, and Abidjan is starting Oct 2, 2016. Mumbai, India is in the pipeline by the end of 2016 and Guangzhou is scheduled to start early 2017.