A traditional water cannon shower awaited RwandAir’s Airbus A330-200 a few hours ago as the airline launched commercial operations with its first wide-body aircraft.
Over 200 passengers were onboard this maiden flight which was almost sold out, providing new comfort levels onboard in all three classes.
It is understood from normally well-informed sources close to the airline that an increasing number of passengers from the wider Eastern African region are now joining their fellow Africans from West and Southern Africa to travel via Kigali to Dubai, taking advantage of RwandAir’s affordable fares and package deals.
“Ubumwe” will be joined in late November by sistership “Umurage,” a larger Airbus A330-300 variant, while another Boeing B737-800NG is also expected to join the fleet in November, bringing the number of aircraft operated by RwandAir for the first time in the airline’s history into double digits. Another Boeing B737-800NG, due for delivery in Q2 of 2017, will then conclude the present aircraft purchase orders.
State-of-the-art flatbed seats in Business Class, a 2x3x2 configuration of 21-deep reclining Premium Economy Class seats with foot rests, and 201 Economy Class seats with an 18-inch width were complemented by new catering arrangements and a state-of-the-art inflight entertainment program on the new aircraft.
