Rwanda’s Ambassador to Tanzania, Gen. Patrick Nyamvumba, has praised the launch of RwandAir flights to Zanzibar, saying the new route offers a timely solution for travellers on both sides.
He made the remarks on Monday, 1 December 2025, as the inaugural RwandAir flight touched down at Abeid Amani Karume International Airport.
The Rwandan national carrier has officially begun operating direct flights from Kigali to Zanzibar, with onward connections to Mombasa. Zanzibar becomes RwandAir’s third destination in Tanzania after Dar es Salaam and Kilimanjaro.
Travellers, including businesspeople, tourists and those visiting family, expressed excitement about the new service, calling it a major boost to convenience and regional connectivity.
Ambassador Nyamvumba said the new flights will ease movement between the two countries and strengthen economic exchanges.
“It’s complementary because there are things we have that they don’t have. It means our people who want to come here can now do so easily, without having to go around or pass through Dar es Salaam to take a boat,” he said.
He added that the route will particularly benefit business communities in both Rwanda and Zanzibar.
“In terms of time saved, you can now travel from here to Kigali in just one hour and 45 minutes. Previously, you had to come and spend a night in Dar es Salaam before catching a flight the next day. This will make things much easier for investors, as well as for people travelling from here to Rwanda,” he said.
