RwandAir Resumes Flights, Starts With African Routes

Rwanda national carrier, RwandAir will resume commercial flight operations from August 1, after four months since the airline suspended operations due to the Covid-19 pandemic, which has taken a heavy toll on the industry.

The decision taken by the airline follows the government's order to reopen airport operations for commercial flights.

RwandAir has embarked on a gradual reopening strategy like many other airlines across the world. The chief executive officer of the airline, Yvonne Manzi Makolo said.

"The number of routes will depend on which countries will have lifted their travel restrictions by then. We'll start with those who are open," she noted

Even when countries are fully open up, which will be determined by how much the novel coronavirus pandemic recedes, airlines will have to wait a little longer before passengers are confident enough to travel again.

Makolo said RwandAir will start with the African routes that are already open - the airline operates more destinations in Africa, flying to about 24 destinations across the continent.

She said, they will start the operations of the long haul routes with Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), one of the most lucrative business routes for the airline, where they previously operated daily flights.

"We're rebuilding our business in the context of the new normal. Rebuilding passenger confidence that it's safe to fly amid the pandemic," Makolo said.

RwandAir's boss also noted that they are putting all health and safety measures in place across all touchpoints, asserting that the demand for air travel will increase gradually.

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