Tag: Rwand Air

Rwand Air is to expand flight operations into Harare and Mumbai from April, its Country Manager, Ms Ibiyemi Odusi has said.

Flights into Harare and Mumbai, Odusi said, were part of the expansion plans by the East African carrier in the first quarter of the year.

In an interview in Lagos, she said the carrier hoped to expand flights into other routes including :Lilongwe, Bamako, Conakry , New York and London.

According to her, “This year, there are plans to expand flights into New York, London, Mumbai, Harare, and Lilongwe.”

Flights into London, she said, would also commence in the first quarter.

She said the unique selling point of the new routes for the airline would be driven by its International Air Transport Association (IATA) operational safety audit (IOSA) safety record.

Odusi listed other unique selling points to include good product and operating aircraft, young fleet with reliability, customer service, in- flight entertainment, on time performance and seamless connectivity beyond its hub in Kigali, the Rwandan capital.

She said the airline would deploy its new Airbus 300-200 and Airbus 300- 300 as well as Boeing 737- 800 aircraft with on board wifi and mobile network.

East African carrier Rwand Air will not stop flights into Nigeria despite the recession, its Country Manager, Ms Ibiyemi Odusi, has said.

In an interview in Lagos, she said Rwand Air was optimistic that the economy would rebound as a potential market which cannot be ignored by any carrier.

According to her, the carrier is strategising on how to consolidate its operations with the right aircraft and competitive fares to offer Nigerians seamless travel services.

Rwand Air is open to discussions on how to partner domestic carriers to distribute its passengers.

She said the carrier was offering a 30 per cent discount on fares during the Yuletide.

Ms. Odusi attributed the increasing patronage for the airline to competitive fares and comfortable services.

Describing the Nigerian route as a “cash cow”, she said Rwand Air was exploring the best way to make passengers happy.

One of the ways to consolidate its operations in Nigeria, she said is to leverage on-time departure, customer-centric packages and investment in equipment.

Ms. Odusi said: “Rwand Air is offering a 30 per cent discount when you fly to any of our destinations.

‘’This is in line with giving back to the society. RwandAir in December 2016 is offering its customers bonus Christmas tour packages to Dubai, Nairobi and Mombasa from Lagos.’’

She said in addition to its 20 routes, the airline planned to expand next year into Cotonou, Abidjan, New York and London, Gatwick.

“Rwand Air has added Cotonou and Abidjan to its network. The airline is also planning to introduce New York, London, Mumbai, Harare, Lilongwe, Conakry and Bamako into its route network by next year.

“Rwand Air has no intention of withdrawing its operations to and from Nigeria rather it has intentions to grow  in frequency and capacity in this market which we have served very well in the last  five years,” she said.

The carrier will not withdraw the A330-300 it deployed on the Kigali-Lagos route, because Nigeria holds the potential to become an attractive market, Ms. Odusi added.

• To unveil Airbus on Nigerian route

To mark its just-concluded financial year 2015/16, East African carrier Rwand Air has met its trade and corporate partners in Lagos to review its global operations.

The objective of the meeting, according to its Country Manager, Ibiyemi Odusi, is to gather input for the new financial year, which is in its first quarter.

The airline, with its hub in Kigali; the Rwandan capital, operates into Dubai, Johannesburg, Nairobi, Entebbe, Dar es Salaam, Lusaka, Bujumbura, Juba, Accra, Brazzaville, Douala, Cotonou and Libreville.

The airline plans to take delivery of a new Airbus 330 to be deployed on the Nigerian route.

The aircraft, she said, will be deployed on the Nigerian – Dubai route next month, after which it will service the Lagos – Mumbai route in December.

Speaking at an event in Lagos last week, Odusi said the airline will in the first quarter of next year take delivery of another brand new Airbus for planned operations into Guangzhou in China for Nigerian passengers.

She said the meeting with trade and corporate partners in Lagos  provided an avenue for the airline to thank its customers and trade partners for the success the Nigeria market achieved, and to plan further for the 2016/2017 financial year,

Odusi said the last financial year was a good outing for the airline on the Nigerian route as its revenue outflows and passenger traffic were the highest in terms of growth in the RwandAir network.

She said it is for this reason that RwandAir holds dearly its Nigerian operations.

The Country Manager said the airline would continue to invest in Nigeria with new products that would attract better patronage.

She said Nigerian passengers have demonstrated patronage and commitment to the airline and that it was time to give back with more quality services and competitive fares.

Odusi spoke of plans by the airline to add new routes soon, as it is looking forward to strategic partnerships within and outside the continent to develop its hub in Kigali into other global destinations.

She said the airline’s frequent flyer programme (Dream Miles) is in place, which would enable passengers earn mileage on every trip.

The DreamMiles,according to her allow passengers benefit from discount on fares, use of airport lounges, additional baggage allowance, and gain cabin upgrade as well as other benefits.

She said: “We are also working on hotel partnerships. The Dream Miles card has recently been upgraded into a Visa Card that would confer corporate benefits.”

While thanking its corporate clients, trade partners and other valued customers for the last financial year, Odusi called on them to increase their patronage as the airline will continue to unveil products that would enhance the travel experience, both seamless, affordable and pleasurable.

She said business class passengers can now enjoy flat bed in business class and more space in premium and economy cabins, adding that  Cargo and Excess Baggage will now be better accommodated with this bigger aircraft.