Qatar Airways from Kigali to Operate Directs Flights to Dubai

23-March-2012

Qatar Airways is expected to start direct flights to Dubai if the company's future plans succeed in the country, Akbar Al Baker, the airliner's CEO, said yesterday in an interview.

The revelation follows the inaugural flight by the airline in Kigali on Wednesday afternoon.

"The country has a huge tourism potential and other economic activities that are attracting foreigners. Therefore, as our cooperation and business develops, we expect to have a direct flight to Dubai that will link Kigali to other middle east and Asian countries," Baker told The New Times after meeting Prime Minister Dr Pierre Damien Habumuremyi.

The giant airliner with its Airbus A320 is expected to operate on the Kigali-Doha route via Entebbe in neighbouring Uganda.

Baker mentioned that most airlines were flying to Europe and America. He however, said it was prudent to have more flights that connect to Asia and the middle east which he said would expand the economic development of the country.

Currently, RwandAir, the national carrier operates six flights a week to Dubai.

Most East Africans import their finished goods from United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Baker further noted that the good leadership, transparency, security and political commitment towards economic development, motivated them to start transportation business in Kigali.

New Times Rwanda