The new year kicked off with Oman Air announcing its expansion into East Africa. The airline will commence direct flight operations between Oman’s city of Muscat and Rwanda’s capital, Kigali. The 5.5-hour passenger service will begin in JUN26, connecting the two cities twice a week, using Boeing 737 aircraft. It is Oman Air’s first sub-Saharan connection and enables Oman Air Cargo to offer attractive freight links between East Africa, the Middle East, and Europe – particularly for perishables and time-sensitive commodities. The service is currently still subject to regulatory approvals.
The passenger version of the airline’s press release points out that: “Oman and Rwanda have shared diplomatic relations for over 28 years as well as a long-established trade relationship. Rwanda’s tourism and business travel market has expanded steadily in recent years with growing demand for the country’s eco-tourism and premium travel offerings. Kigali has also positioned itself as a regional hub for conferences and investment, supported by government-led initiatives to attract international events.” In addition to Oman serving as a “key regional aviation hub”, Oman Air Cargo, has been focusing on network expansion across the Middle East, Asia [Indian Subcontinent], and Europe, alongside the latest East Africa announcement. “The Muscat-Kigali service will support the movement of fresh produce, including fruit, vegetables, and flowers, alongside pharmaceuticals, general cargo, and express shipments originating in East Africa,” the cargo release states, underlining the many network connections out of Oman that position it “as an efficient transit hub for African exports destined for global markets”.
Michael Duggan, Head of Cargo, Oman Air, explained: “We are seeing sustained growth in demand between the Middle East and Africa, particularly for perishables and specialist cargo, and this new route allows us to respond with additional capacity and reach. By expanding our network into East Africa, we are providing exporters with reliable access to our global network and strengthening Muscat’s position as a dependable cargo hub.”
