National carrier, RwandAir, on Saturday, launched direct flights between Kigali and Brazzaville the capital of the Republic of Congo, the carrier’s eleventh route.  

With a Boeing 737-500, the carrier will operate three weekly flights on Tuesday, Friday and Saturday.

During a function at Maya Maya International Airport, to launch the carrier’s new route, RwandAir’s CEO, John Mirenge, said the route will serve passengers traveling between Kigali, Brazzaville and Libreville, Gabon.

"RwandAir will be operating 2hours direct flight to Brazzaville and then 1:30hours to Libreville-this route will connect many countries. There will be an exchange of goods between these countries in terms of what we grow and produce in Rwanda,” he said.

RwandAir also anticipates the route to boost its revenues.
"If we keep consistency, as RwandAir will be the first aircraft connecting the Congo Brazzaville to Gabon-Libreville, our revenues are set to shoot-up,” Mirenge said.
Mirenge added that he is assured of business flowing between the two countries.

Vincent Karega, the Minister of Infrastructure, noted the launch comes after President Paul Kagame’s visit to Congo Brazzaville last November.

"President Kagame and his counterpart strongly believe in a new image of Africa, they also believe the primary responsibility for Africa development lies with Africans themselves,” Karega said.

He added that the two countries agreed to put an air-bridge between Kigali and Brazzaville, and that this is the only beginning of people to people interaction, business to business, which is expected to generate benefits on both sides.

‘This route is going to add cooperation, business, tourism and also create market for Rwandan products,” Minister Karega said.

The Head of the delegation of Congo Brazzaville, Thierry Moungala, said the move will enhance business flows within the two countries and strengthen their partnership.

"This is a historic event for us, it’s a symbolic event for the cooperation of both countries, and it’s a sign of the friendship of the Heads of State of our the respective countries,”

He also informed that one of Congo’s airlifting companies will start flying to Kigali in the near future.

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