Oman’s low-cost carrier SalamAir has signalled plans to expand its operations in Rwanda beyond the initial twice-weekly flights set to launch next month, citing growing demand for travel and increasing economic links between the two countries and the wider Gulf region. The airline officials made the observations on June 19 during a launch event in Kigali attended by travel agents, tourism stakeholders and business partners ahead of the start of direct flights between Omani capital Muscat and Kigali on July 21. According to the airline, the development offers passengers affordable travel options with one-way fares starting from OMR 69.99 (approx. Rwf265,000). ALSO READ: Oman’s SalamAir to launch direct flights to Kigali Direct flights to begin July 21 as the airline sees room for growth in Rwanda The service will operate twice a week -- on Tuesdays and Thursdays -- connecting Rwanda directly to the Omani capital and providing onward access to more than 45 destinations across SalamAir’s network spanning the Gulf, Asia, and East Africa. Speaking to The New Times on the sidelines of the event, Waheed Al Bulushi, SalamAir’s Regional Sales Manager, said the airline sees strong growth potential in the Rwandan market and hopes to increase flight frequencies in the future. “As we said, we are starting our operation from Muscat to Kigali on July 21 with two weekly flights. One of the main reasons is that we would like to connect people from both countries. We would like to enrich tourism in both countries,” Al Bulushi said. “Opening a new route creates many opportunities for the economy and helps enrich every industry here.” ALSO READ: Rwanda aviation firm, Oman Airports ink cooperation deal According to the airline, the route is expected to boost tourism, facilitate trade and investment, support business travel, and strengthen Rwanda’s connectivity to key international markets. Rwanda office marks official market entry The launch also marks SalamAir’s official entry into Rwanda through a partnership with Mitravi, which has been appointed as the airline’s General Sales Agent in the country. Al Bulushi said SalamAir’s experience in neighbouring Kenya gives the carrier confidence that the Kigali route can grow significantly over time. “We started our operation in Nairobi with two flights, then grew to three flights and later four flights. We are now looking at operating daily flights from Nairobi,” he said. “We want to do the same from Kigali. We are starting with two flights, but we will be increasing the frequencies.” ALSO READ: Rwanda, Oman sign key deals in trade, aviation, ICT sectors Founded in 2017 as Oman’s first low-cost carrier, SalamAir has expanded rapidly from an initial fleet of three aircraft to 16 aircraft today. The airline expects to receive its 17th aircraft in July and plans to operate 18 aircraft by the end of the year. The carrier currently serves more than 40 destinations across the Indian subcontinent, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region, the Far East, and East Africa. It is also continuing its international expansion, with new services to Vienna in Austria and Medan in Indonesia set to launch this month. Connecting tourism, trade and investment through low-cost travel In his address, Al Bulushi said airlines play a broader role than simply transporting passengers. “We are not just selling seats. We are connecting people, dreams, passions, businesses and tourism,” he said. He noted that both Rwandans and Omanis benefit from visa-on-arrival arrangements, making travel between the two countries easier and supporting tourism and business exchanges. To attract travellers, SalamAir is banking on its low-cost model, flexible ticket options, and modern fleet of Airbus A320 and A321 aircraft. “Safety is our top priority. We have a very new and modern fleet,” Al Bulushi said, referring to passenger safety. “What we can also offer is the best fares to customers. If you do not want to carry bags, you can buy a very cheap ticket. If you want to add baggage, you can do so as an add-on. Our ticket-selling model is very flexible.” Growing Rwanda-Oman ties The launch of direct flights comes amid growing ties between Rwanda and Oman. Earlier this year, the two countries signed cooperation agreements in transport, logistics, ICT, and development sectors, while Rwanda’s Aviation and Travel Logistics (ATL) Ltd recently signed a memorandum of understanding with Oman Airports to explore collaboration in aviation development and related infrastructure.
