RwandAir slashes fares in Expo bonanza

RwandAir, has slashed air fare charges in a promotion that will benefit exhibitors and visitrs to the on-going international trade fair at Gikondo grounds. According to the carrier’s Marketing and Corporate Communications Manager, Michael Otieno, the 50 percent discount will only apply on particular days. Rwanda International Trade Fair (RITF) which started Thursday will end on the 6th September. Flights fares that were cut include, the Kigali-Nairobi route to $250 (Rwf147, 000) and Kigali-Entebbe $220 (129,360). There were cuts on the Kigali Johannesburg route was from $500 to $450 (Rwf264,600) and the Kigali-Bujumbura route new fare is $170 (Rwf99,960). The carrier is also running a promotion branded, “Unforgettable Thursday” where a return ticket to Johannesburg will cost $350 (Rwf205,800) taxes inclusive. Currently, RwandAir was running a promotion of $500 (Rwf294,000) to Johannesburg which was introduced to facilitate flights to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. Last week, the national carrier unveiled its second 737-500 Boeing, bringing its fleet to two CRJ-200s aircrafts and two dry-leased Boeing 737-500 and a Dash 8. The new planes are leased from the world’s largest aircraft leasing company, General Electric Capital Aviation Services (GECAS). With the new fleet, in October, RwandAir is set to launch Dubai via Mombasa, Kinshasa as their new destination and daily flights to Johannesburg. By 2013, the airline is expecting to have a combined ‘owned, operated and maintained’ fleet of six aircrafts including a 160 seater Boeing aircraft. The carrier is also expecting the delivery of two Boeing 737-800s in 2011, as it is aggressively growing its fleet to cater for its network expansion plans that will see the carrier fly to more regional and intercontinental destinations. Ends