RwandAir is to launch long-haul flights into Europe from the first quarter of next year with the launch of flights between Kigali and London Gatwick Airport.

Speaking to Routes Online at the just concluded World Travel Market in London, RwandAir officials also confirmed that the airline is in talks with Airbus for possible A350 order.

RwandAir recently introduced its first wide-body jet, an A330-200, into its fleet and a larger A330-300 is due to arrive this month and will be used to launch flights to London from January 2017.

The UK capital has been selected ahead of Frankfurt and Paris as the carrier’s first European point of call, a significant boost in the country’s post-Brexit referendum environment.

In addition to long-haul expansion, RwandAir continues to boost its presence in Africa recently adding flights to Cotonou, Benin and Abidjan, Ivory Coast and plans flights to Bamako, Mali; Conakry, Guinea; Dakar, Senegal; Durban, South Africa; Harare, Zimbabwe and Lilongwe, Malawi.

The airline also plans to launch flights to Mumbai in India.