A bilateral agreement aimed at facilitating air travel to and fro Germany and the rest of Europe was signed yesterday by the governments of Germany and Rwanda.

The agreement follows the 2010 aviation negotiations between the two governments to allow commercial air transport services between their territories.

Speaking after the signing at the Ministry of Infrastructure offices, Kigali, the State Minister in charge of Transport, Alexis Nzahabwanimana, said the agreement aims to promote competition among airlines with minimum government involvement.

"It was mandatory for us to sign this agreement which comes to complement the international regulations that facilitate free movement of airlines across the world,” he explained to the media.

With that, it is expected that air transport opportunities will increase, including the introduction of direct flights to Germany from Rwanda and more affordable air tickets.

"This agreement allows airlines registered in Rwanda to fly to Germany and vice-versa. It also allows airlines registered in Rwanda to fly to different destinations with a similar arrangement from Germany,” he explained.

Rwanda’s national carrier RwandAir has plans of opening up European routes come 2017.

Nzahabwanimana said Rwanda, which also seeks to become the region’s aviation hub in the next few years, will be in position to receive more air traffic from Europe thanks to the deal.

"An airport like Frankfurt in Germany serves like a European aviation hub. With this agreement, airlines like Lufthansa and RwandAir shall enable the countries do hub to hub air transportation, thus opening up the regions,” he said.

Peter Fahrenhltz, the ambassador of Germany to Rwanda, said he was optimistic in the next two years air transport fares would go down to meet the expectations of passengers and shippers.