RwandAir launches new flight to Guangzhou

2019-06-27 12:35:23 Newsgd.com Newsgd.com

RwandAir, the flag carrier of Rwanda, started operating its first direct flight to China on June 18th, linking Rwanda’s capital Kigali with Guangzhou. The flight time is 14 hours 50 minutes, making it the airline’s longest flight to date.

RwandAir will offer three flights a week, on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Guangzhou has been tagged to the airline's existing Mumbai route, forming a new route CAN-BOM-KGL. The flight will be serviced by an Airbus A330 with a triple class cabin, equipped with state-of-the-art technology, onboard Wi-Fi, in-flight entertainment and comfortable seats with more legroom, ideal for this kind of long haul flight.

RwandAir Airbus A330 at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport. [Photo provided to Newsgd.com]

A launch event was held by RwandaAir in Guangzhou on the evening of June 19th, attended by the Rwandan Ambassador to China Charles Kayonga, Rwandan Minister of State in charge of Transport Jean de Dieu Uwihanganye, CEO of RwandAir Yvonne Manzi Makolo, Deputy Secretary-General of the Guangzhou Municipal Government Gao Yuyue, and Chairman of Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport Qiu Jiachen.

Commenting on the launch of the Guangzhou route, Yvonne Manzi Makolo said, “With the increasing volume of trade between African countries and China, the need to meet the high demand of businessmen and traders travelling between Africa and Guangzhou is strongly felt. This new route will open up new business opportunities and also increase our passenger and cargo traffic.”

Jean de Dieu Uwihanganye said, “Guangzhou is one of the biggest trade hubs in China, and the majority of imported products from China to Rwanda come from Guangzhou. This new route will help Rwandan businesspeople to lower the cost of freight to and from China.”

Deputy Secretary-General of the Guangzhou Municipal Government Gao Yuyue (L) and Rwandan Minister of State in charge of Transport Jean de Dieu Uwihanganye exchange gifts at the event. [Photo provided to Newsgd.com]

Gao Yuyue who noted that Guangzhou, a key city in the Belt and Road Initiative, has always been at the forefront of China’s economic development, especially as regards foreign trade, hopes more Rwandans will come invest in Guangzhou and visit the city.

The new route extends RwandAir's network to a total of 28 destinations. Guangzhou has become its second destination in Asia following Mumbai (operational since April 2017).

Qiu Jiachen believes that the new route will strongly boost economic and cultural exchange between Guangzhou and Kigali.

Rwandan flight crew pose for a group photo at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport. [Photo provided to Newsgd.com]

About RwandAir

From its hub in the heart of Africa at Kigali International Airport, RwandAir is reputed for its excellent on-time performance, customer service and safety, and has one of the youngest fleets on the African continent.

With a total of twelve aircraft including two wide-body Airbus A330, the airline currently reaches out to 28 destinations across East, Central, West and Southern Africa, the Middle East, Europe and Asia.

Author: Monica Liu, Li Jiaxing

Editor: Simon Haywood

NULL