RwandAir 737-800NG upon arrival in London, UK
Just after RwandAir made its maiden flight from Kigali to London, the airline has selected an agency to handle its sales in the United Kingdom.
According to AirCargoNews, the agency- Network Airline Services was appointed as its cargo General Sales Agent (GSA) covering the UK market.
“Yes indeed Network Airline Services was appointed to handle RwandAir cargo sales in the UK. The GSA was among others that responded to our request of proposal and the bid was successful as they met the terms of reference,” said Ariella Kageruka, Rwandair’s Promotions and Communications Manager.
The UK deal is expected to enable the airline to penetrate its competitive hand on cargo handling after Rwanda purchased a state of the art Boeing plane named ‘Umurage’- to make direct flights from East Africa region (Kigali city) to Europe.
“Umurage” made its first flight from Kigali to London on night of June 22nd and in the hands of a Rwandan pilot and Co-Pilot. They landed safely.
The new cargo GSA deal will add to another passenger sales business in the UK handled by Flight Directors that were appointed five months ago to handle passenger sales, according to Alex Buterere – RwandAir Director of Global Sales Operations.
Network Airline Services is an international air cargo services specialist which provides Air cargo sales, support services management especially developing client’s services identifying specific opportunities in routes, markets and fleet.
Rwanda has also been named among the top African fast growing countries in Air Travel business.
According to the International Air Traffic Transport Association(IATTA), the top 10 fastest growing world markets for air travel over the next 20 years will be in Africa.
The top 10 fastest growing markets are Benin, Central African Republic, Guinea, Madagascar, Mali, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Togo, Uganda and Zambia.
In 2016, RwandAir purchased its first two wide-body brand new Airbus A330s (East Africa’s first triple class configuration) as well as its third Boeing 737-800NG.
In addition to London, RwandAir flies to 22 destinations including; Nairobi, Entebbe, Mombasa, Bujumbura, Lusaka, Juba, Douala, Dar es Salaam, Kilimanjaro, Cotonou, Johannesburg, Dubai, Lagos, Libreville and Brazzaville, among others.
This year, the airline plans to acquire its fourth Boeing 737-800NG and expand its wings to Guangzhou in China, Bamako in Mali, Conakry in Guinea, Lilongwe in Malawi, and New York in the USA.
Rwanda’s National carrier has largely depended on Ethiopian airlines for its handling and training of staff, for its operations within the African continent.
RwandAir is IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) certified.
