RwandAir has begun operating direct flights to Zanzibar in Tanzania and has resumed its route to Mombasa, Kenya.
The announcement, released on Monday, confirmed that the new schedule takes effect from December 1, 2025.
The Kigali–Zanzibar–Mombasa route will run four times a week—on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays—using a Boeing B737 aircraft.
The Zanzibar route offers a more convenient travel option for passengers who previously had to transit through Dar es Salaam before taking a boat or an additional flight to the island.
Flights to Mombasa had been suspended in 2019, while the Zanzibar route is entirely new. This expansion brings RwandAir’s destinations to three locations in Tanzania and two in Kenya.
RwandAir CEO Yvonne Makolo said reopening the Mombasa route and introducing flights to Zanzibar marks a major step in strengthening the airline’s East African network.
“Returning to Mombasa and launching flights to Zanzibar is a major milestone in our expansion strategy and our efforts to widen our East African network. It helps strengthen Kigali’s position as an aviation hub, offers passengers more travel options within the region, and opens new doors for trade and tourism, supporting regional cooperation,” Makolo said.
The government’s five-year development plan prioritises boosting air transport, including expanding RwandAir’s destination network.
The strategy is also expected to increase the number of passengers travelling with RwandAir, with projections indicating that passenger numbers could double.
