The Rwanda’s national flag carrier, RwandAir landed at Guangzhou, Baiyun International Airport on the evening of 18 June 2019 entering the Chinese market for the first time.

Speaking at the reception event, the State Minister in Charge of Transport in the Ministry of Infrastructure, Jean De Dieu Uwihanganye applauded the commenced Kigali – Guangzhou route saying that it will ease transport and significantly reduce transport costs and time, which will have an impact on the Rwandan economy.

He added that, "the government of Rwanda has a vision that aims to make the country one of the major aviation hubs in Africa. The route will greatly contribute to Rwanda’s plan to be a regional aviation hub for not only passenger traffic but also cargo,” State Minister added. 

According to Ambassador Charles Kayonga, the Ambassador of the Republic of Rwanda to China, the RwandAir’s flight to Guangzhou is timely, following the agreement on Civil Aviation Air Transport signed in Kigali last year. “This is a giant leap forward for Rwanda, a country seeking to position itself as a destination of choice along the Belt and Road for Chinese entrepreneurs and tourists. It is yet another success story in the China-Rwanda, China- Africa relations,” Ambassador Kayonga noted.

RwandAir’s flight to Guangzhou will no doubt bring our two sides win-win results and contribute practically to building a shared future for our people. The Envoy added. 

At the event, the Deputy Secretary General of Guangzhou Municipal People's Government, Mr. GaoYuyue said that the Kigali – Mumbai – Guangzhou route will contribute a significantly to the deepening of the relations of our two sides.

At the event, Yvonne Manzi Makolo, the Chief Executive Officer of RwandAir, said, “The route will meet the high demands of the businessmen and traders traveling between African countries and China.” 

The Kigali-Guangzhou route will be served three times a week by Airbus A330 via Mumbai. 

Kigali – Guangzhou route becomes the airline’s third Asian route after Dubai (United Arab Emirates) and Mumbai (India). 

Guangzhou is RwandAir’s 28th destination coming after the launch of flights between Kigali and DR Congo’s capital of Kinshasa in April.

The airline is expected to launch its 29th destination next week in Tel Aviv capital city of Israel.