Travel
Sunday, January 24, 2016
Global umbrella gives RwandAir kudos
SMOOTH TAXING: ICAO says RwandAir passed an operational audit test.
KIGALI, RWANDA – RwandAir Express has been rated among the world’s safest for 2015 after passing an operational audit test conducted by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) writes AGNES BATETA.
Rwandan airline officially became IATA member in May 2015, and currently flies to 13 destinations which includes Nairobi (Kenya), Entebbe (Uganda), Mombasa (Kenya), Bujumbura (Burundi), Dar es Salaam and Kilimanjaro (Tanzania).
During a recent visit to Kigali IATA Vice-President, Raphael Kuuchi, made confirmed this when handing over of the certificate of recognition to the airline at the Kigali International Airport.
He said the carrier was recognised by IATA for the strength of its recently commenced flights from Kigali to several African cities, giving RwandAir a greenlight to fly to any part of the world.
The global aviation regulator representative also said RwandAir is now at liberty to join any 5-star carrier alliance of its choice for code-sharing agreements.
According to the Centre for Aviation (CAPA) RwandAir has been quietly constructing a regional Africa network with the aim of establishing its home at Kigali as a hub for the continent, 40% of the airline’s traffic connects.
But growing competition has caused the airline’s management to believe it must establish a long haul network earlier if it is to carve a stake in the future. Plans for long haul flights to China and India are being accelerated with an anticipated 2016 launch using A330s instead of 787s.
By Agnes Bateta, Sunday, January 24th, 2016