The National carrier, Rwandair Chief Executive Officer John Mirenge has announced that the carrier will open new routes that will connect it to the world .
In an exclusive interview with igihe.com, Mirenge said that this will make the country more accessible bringing growth and expansion for the business community, tourism sector, and leisure among others leading to the economic growth.
“As a landlocked country the movement of people and goods is very vital not only for those who need to get out of Rwanda but also for those who need to easily access Rwanda,” Mirenge has said in his Kigali International Airport based office.
Mirenge noted that one of the company’s key targets is to make the country accessible through opening new routes so that investors can access Rwandan market.
He also added that RwandAir will also offer key and vital links between Rwanda and key hubs in the East African region, and to other destinations.
Another benefit is local businessmen to access other markets in different parts of the world for exportation and also importation as a way which contributes to the development of the country.
“By choosing a strategy to fly to key hubs, the national carrier has certainly laid a good network that will enable the positive growth already anticipated in tourism, and other key pillars to economic development like business and leisure,” Mirenge said.
“For the country like Rwanda which is landlocked; to reach its growth and development, it needs to be accessible,”
Mirege also said that as a national carrier it is a contributor to the national economy through the number of passengers transported in and out of Rwanda.
“The number of passengers transported in and out of Rwanda, now averaging about 15, 000 passengers a month. We expect that with increase in frequencies to our destinations and as we introduce newer destination we will witness the national carrier contribute more both directly and indirectly.” He pointed out.
Rwandair is a national carrier that is still in its infancy stages after the government fully owned it in 2010.
According to its CEO, the carrier now owns seven aircrafts including recent introduced two Boeings 737-800 that are already operational, and that the staffing levels currently stand at around 540 employees with about 65% Rwandan citizens employed in commercial and other administrative positions.
By the country’s vision 2020, the carrier intends to increase to 18 aircrafts.
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