Indian Government, on Wednesday approved the Air Services Agreement (ASA) between India and Rwanda, effectively permitting the airline to launch flights to India.

RwandAir early this month announced that it will commence direct flights to India’s commercial centre Mumbai on April 3.

Direct flights to Mumbai will be operated four times a week using the airlines brand new two-class Boeing 737-800 Next Generation.

Last year, RwandAir received its first wide-bodied brand new Airbus A330s in a triple class configuration and Africa's first Boeing 737-800NG equipped with in-flight connectivity on a line-fit programme.

The airline also plans to start flights to Gatwick, London's second-busiest airport, and to the US this year as part of its strategy to serve more global markets.

RwandAir currently flies to 19 destinations including Nairobi, Entebbe, Mombasa, Bujumbura, Lusaka, Juba, Douala, Dar es Salaam, Kilimanjaro, Cotonou, Johannesburg, Dubai, Lagos, Libreville and Brazzaville.