RwandAir has received yet another International Air Transport Association (IATA) certification confirming safety of its ground operations. IATA’s Safety Audit for Ground Operations (ISAGO) is a standard and structured audit programme for ground service providers and was modeled on the success of IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA), according to John Mirenge, the chief executive of RwandAir.

The certification, which the airline officials received on Wednesday, November 9, is valid for two years and will expire in July 2018, he added.

Mirenge said the audit uses internationally recognised ground operational standards aimed at reducing risk and cost. "This is a key milestone towards enhancing safety standards and meeting customer expectations,” he said.

The certification follows an audit conducted on RwandAir ground operations in July by WAKE QA, an IATA-approved audit organisation. The airline is IATA operational safety audit certified, which makes it globally-recognised as one of the safest airlines, according to international civil aviation standards, qualifying it to fly to any destination across the world. "With this achievement, RwandAir will provide its customer airlines and private jets operating at Kigali International Airport enhanced ground-handling services with high safety standards while maximising productivity,” Mirenge said

He added that both the ISAGO and IOSA certification confirms the airline’s commitment to industry’s best practices in operational safety to a world class level. The airline announced this week that it will start flights to the UK and the US next year.

In September, the airline acquired its first A330-200 Airbus aircraft to boost its fleet and capacity to compete globally. It is waiting delivery of another wide-body A330-300 Airbus plane. RwandAir flies to 19 destinations in Africa and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.