afrol News, 15 April - The Rwandan national airliner, Rwandair Express has signed a partnership with Brussels Airlines to have access to the European market. The partnership comes just a week after the European Union updated its list of banned airlines into the EU due to safety concerns.

According to a communiqué issued by the Belgian airliner, Rwanda's national airline will sell tickets on flights to the European capital giving Rwandair an opportunity to penetrate the Belgian market and while also helping Brussels Airlines reinforce its position on the African market.

The airliners which have began offering codeshare flights between Belgium and Rwanda since 31 March, said the agreement would not only offer direct connection between Brussels and Kigali, but also to other African and European destinations through Kigali or Brussels.

“This new partnership with a local Rwandan airline clearly shows how important the African and, more specific, the Rwandan market is for Brussels Airlines,” the statement read.

The commercial deal between Brussels Airlines and Rwandair Express enables the Rwandan airline to sell 10 seats in economy class on all 3 weekly flights between Kigali and Brussels, operated by Brussels Airlines.

All 3 weekly codeshare flights will be operated by the Belgian airline with one of their 4 Airbuses 330-300.

According to the statement, the partnership also offers Rwandair clients the flexibility of booking online or buying tickets through any of the Rwandair offices in Eastern or Southern Africa and fly out to Brussels direct from Kigali on every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

Brussels Airlines is owned by SN Airholding and is backed up by more than 80 years of aviation experience in Belgium.

The latest blacklist by the EU which also covers Rwanda is the tenth update first drawn up by the EU in March 2006 with more than 90 airlines mainly from Africa having been banned. The ban already covers carriers from nations including Angola, Gabon, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Liberia and other Asian countries.

The EU imposed harsh measures on passenger carriers following airline crashes in 2004 and 2005 that killed hundreds of European travelers.

By staff writer

© afrol News

Related pages and feature

Current afrol News Top Stories