KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, on Wednesday, announced the launch of service between Amsterdam and Kigali which will start on 31 October 2010.

According the airlines statement, the Kigali schedule will become KLM’s 64th intercontinental destination.

"Five flights a week will be offered to Kigali with an intermediate stopover in Entebbe,” the statement said.
”The flights will be operated using Airbus A330-200 equipment. This aircraft type offers seats for 243 passengers; 30 in World Business Class and 213 in Economy Class,” the statement says.

KLM President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Peter Hartman is quoted in the statement as saying that adding Kigali as a new destination strengthens KLM’s position in East Africa.

He also said that the East African region is of key importance to the extensive Air France-KLM network.

Together with partner airline Kenya Airways, KLM will offer Kigali as the 5th destination served directly in East Africa, along with Nairobi, Entebbe, Kilimanjaro and Dar es Salaam. KLM-Kenya Airways operates a total of 41 weekly flights between East Africa and Europe.

With effect from 31 October 2010, flight KL563 will be departing from Schiphol on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays at 1015 hours, arriving the same day in Kigali at 2125 hours.

"The return flights (KL564) will depart from Kigali on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays at 22:30 hours, arriving a day later in Amsterdam at 08:15 hours.

Flights to this new destination can be booked from Thursday, 24 June using the reservations systems or online via www.klm.com,” the statement further stated.

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