The Rwandan High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Stanislas Kamanzi has described as “unacceptable” a situation in which African countries still have problems of inter-country flight connectivity.
Speaking in Lagos when RwandAir’s newly acquired A330-200 aircraft landed at the international wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos, the high commissioner said it had become necessary to liberalise intra-African air markets.
“There is necessity for Africa to be inter-connected by air. A situation in which African countries still have problems of intra-country flight connectivity is unacceptable. Such difficulties in intra-African connectivity remain a huge challenge, wasting valuable time, resources that could be used to develop Africa.
He described the arrival of the aircraft as a “milestone” saying the aircraft is part of effort to improve Rwanda’s national carrier in offering seamless connections into and out of Africa.
He also announced that the airline would soon take delivery of another aircraft to it contribute its quota in growing air transportation in Africa.
“We have to thank Nigeria for accommodating RwandAir and for allowing our airline develop Lagos as a hub in West Africa. From Lagos, we have expanded our operations into Ghana, Conakry, and Abidjan. With this aircraft, people and business could move across borders,” he added.
Earlier, the carrier’s country manager, Ms Ibiyemi Odusi had remarked that the arrival of the Airbus 330 – 200 “is one the steps taken by the airline to consolidate on the Nigerian route with attractive packages that will make the carrier the preferred choice by passengers.”
Odusi called on the Nigerian passengers to continue to patronise RwandAir to destinations within and outside Africa to enable the airline resolve the lingering challenge of flight connectivity within Africa.
