RwandAir will launch scheduled flight services between Kigali and Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport in Guangdong Province, China in May this year.

Announcing this in January, Jean de Dieu Uwihanganye, the State Minister in charge of Transport, said the new service will facilitate trade and boost tourism between China and Africa.

The flight to Guangzhou will be linked to its existing service between Kigali and Mumbai, India. The route will possibly be upgraded to direct service eventually.

The new Guangzhou service will help ease connectivity and facilitate trade relations between Africa and China as there are currently a lot of business transactions going on between China and Africa.

According to Uwihanganye, Rwanda enjoys good relations with China, with local businesses already importing and exporting a lot of goods to and from China.

From its hub at Kigali International Airport in Kigali, RwandAir currently flies to 24 destinations across Africa, Asia and Europe with a young fleet of 12 aircraft.

RwandAir commenced flights to Mumbai early last year, followed by direct flights to London Gatwick International Airport which was followed by service to Brussels the capital of Belgium.

The national carrier of Rwanda is also planning to start non-stop flights to New York in the United States of America. RwandAir projects to carry over 3 million travellers in the next 5 years.