Rwandair will next month begin direct flights to Lusaka, Zambia, John Mirenge, the chief executive officer, has said. Mirenge said the national carrier will launch its inaugural flight on March 27. The airline will have three weekly flights from Kigali to Lusaka on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

Mirenge said the flights have been incorporated into the Johannesburg route, and the airline will depart Lusaka on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

They will all be operated by our Boeing 737-800 Next Generation dual class aircraft with guaranteed safety and comfort, Mirenge said.

"We are delighted that the continent’s airspace is being opened for African carriers to take advantage of the opportunities therein. The Lusaka route will offer convenience and affordable flights to the passengers who will also take advantage of connections to sixteen other destinations in Africa and in the Middle East,” Mirenge said last week.

Kwizera Kalinganire, a Kigali based business man, said that flying to Lusaka will open up and strengthen business relatioships between Rwanda and Zambia.

RwandAir launched direct flights on the Entebbe-Nairobi route a fortnight ago after acquiring the fifth freedom in Nairobi.

The airline is also expecting the delivery of a second brand new dual class Bombardier Q400 Next Generation aircraft.

Recently the airline was ranked one of the safest across the globe after passing the  International Air Transport Association (IATA) operational safety audit.

Mirenge is awaiting another certification, "the IATA safety audit for ground operations expected to be completed by June 2016.”