KIGALI, April 17 (Xinhua) -- Rwanda's national carrier RwandAir on Wednesday launched direct flights to Kinshasa, the capital city of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
The airline's aircraft took off from Kigali International Airport in Rwandan capital city Kigali on Wednesday morning to Kinshasa's N'Djili International Airport, making Kinshasa the airline's 23rd destination in Africa and the 27th globally.
RwandAir will operate three direct flights per week from Kigali to N'Djili International Airport on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays by a Boeing 737-800NG which offers 15 seats in business class and 136 seats in economy class, RwandAir CEO Yvonne Makolo told reporters at the airport shortly before the inaugural flight.
"We are proud and excited to add Kinshasa to our network and to offer both passenger and cargo services. This new route will support our growth and increase our footprint in Africa," said Makolo.
The flight will play a vital role in the expansion of trade, tourism and investment between Rwanda and DRC, she said.
The airline also plans to operate three additional night flights a week to Kinshasa, according to RwandAir.
"We are excited to witnessing new successes at RwandAir. The government of Rwanda will continue to support the growth of the airline," Jean de Dieu Uwihanganye, Rwandan Minister of State in charge of Transport said at the same event.
With a fleet of 12 aircraft including two wide-body Airbus A330, the airline currently reaches out destinations across East, Central, West and Southern Africa, the Middle East, Europe and Asia.
It plans to add Luanda, Tel Aviv, Addis Ababa and Guangzhou to its network this year. The airline also plans to enter the American market with flights to New York.
