{Rwanda and German governments Wednesday signed a bilateral agreement aimed at facilitating easier air travel to and from Germany and the rest of Europe.}
The agreement came as a result of the 2010 aviation negotiations between the two governments to allow commercial air transport services between their territories.
Speaking after the signing in Kigali, Rwanda’s state minister in charge of transport, Alexis Nzahabwanimana explained that the deal aims to promote competition among airlines in the industry with minimum government interference and regulation.
“This agreement comes to complement the international regulations that facilitate airlines to move freely in the world,” the minister told journalists.
Under the deal, it is expected that air transport opportunities will increase, including the introduction of direct flights to Germany from Rwanda and more affordable air tickets for travelers.
This agreement, the minister added, allows airlines registered in Rwanda to fly to Germany and those registered in Germany to fly to Rwanda.
“It also allows airlines which are registered in Rwanda to fly to different destinations where we have a similar agreement from Germany,” he said.
This comes as Rwanda’s national flag carrier, RwandAir plans to open up European routes in 2017.
Nzahabwanimana said the agreement forms part of the country’s wider plans to become the region’s aviation hub in the coming years.
An airport like Frankfurt in Germany serves like a European aviation hub, he said.
Peter Fahrenhltz, the Germany ambassador to Rwanda, expressed optimism that in the next two years flight charges would go down to meet the air transportation convenience needs of passengers.
Xinhua
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