RwandAir launches first-ever flight to Zanzibar

National carrier RwandAir has launched its first-ever flight to Zanzibar and resumed its service to Mombasa in Kenya. The inaugural flights took place on Monday, December 1, 2025, when a Boeing B737-800NG departed from Kigali International Airport in Kanombe, heading to Zanzibar. “Our Boeing B737-800NG has departed Kigali International Airport for Zanzibar and Mombasa. This is a milestone for intra-African travel. More beaches, more beauty, more East Africa,” the national carrier wrote on X. Upon arrival at Abeid Amani Karume International Airport in Zanzibar, the aircraft received a ceremonial “water salute,” in which water is sprayed over the plane to mark the launch of a new route or to welcome an aircraft. According to information from the airline’s official website, RwandAir began operations on December 1, 2002, under the name Rwandair Express. In March 2009, the airline rebranded to its current name, RwandAir. Operating from its hub in Kigali, RwandAir is one of the fastest-growing airlines on the continent. It operates a young, state-of-the-art fleet that includes four Boeing 737-800NGs, two Boeing 737-700NGs, two CRJ900NGs, two Bombardier Q400NGs (all in dual-class configuration), and two Airbus A330s configured in triple class. The airline, also known for its strong on-time performance, currently serves 22 destinations across Western, Central, Eastern, and Southern Africa, as well as the Middle East, Asia, and Europe.