RwandAir launches Abuja-Kigali Route, to promote integration between both countries

The Rwanda High Commissioner to Nigeria, Ambassador Stanislas Kamanzi has said that the commencement of the first RwandaAir carrier flight from Abuja -Kigali, the Rwanda Capital will further cement and promote existing economic, social and political ties with the Nigeria government.

Kamanzo said, ‘’I appreciate the aeronautic authorities of Nigeria to have allowed RwandaAir from our country fly into Nigeria at a good time like this, this move will further promote the already existing economic, social and political integration that have existed between Nigeria and Rwanda for long, this cooperation and integration would not have been possible without this kind of transportation.”

The Ambassador gave the commendation yesterday, at the launch of RwandAir line at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, as it made its debut direct flight operation from Abuja—Kigali.

RwandAir is purely an indigenous owned private airline that has been operating direct flight from Lagos -Kigali in the last six years. It is a 120 capacity aircraft of  Boeing 737-700 model, which has just started a four days weekly direct flight  from Abuja—Kigali, the Rwanda capital. The days of flights in a week are Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays respectively.

In a remark at the ceremony, the Federal Aviation Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), International Terminal Manager, Mrs. Musa Hajara, said she was glad to see the airline coming to Abuja because it is the seat of power in Nigeria where the market is huge to be tapped in the industry.

Musa noted that the entry into the Abuja-Kigali rout would save customers ample time and energy for traveling to Lagos before routine for Kigali.

She however assured the Staff and Management of the airline that FAAN would do its possible best to assist it success in its new moves. She charged the airline to be courageous to deliver good services for better and quick patronage.

Earlier in her opening remarks, the Country Manager, Nigeria of RwandAir, Ms Ibiyemi Odusi assured Nigerian passangers that they can now fly out from Abuja to Kigali without stress of going down to Lagos.

She expressed gratitude to FAAN, the Rwanda Ambassador in Nigeria, Staff and management of the airline as well as other stakeholders for making the dream come true.

Odusi noted, ‘’This is a special event we are celebrating today, we have been in Nigeria six years running now but we have only being operating the Lagos-Kigali rout, and now that we are here, our passengers are going to smile, this event is significant for us because Abuja is the seat of government, we want to reach those in authorities directly with our services, we also wants to reach stakeholders in the private sector with the view of serving Nigerians better.”

She promised that the airline will give the best services because the aircraft are new, it does not cut corners, staff are well trained even as it is targeting about 80 percent full capacity load weekly.