KIGALI, April 18 (Xinhua) -- Rwanda's flag carrier RwandAir is to launch direct flights to Paris from June 27 to tap into the French market, the airline company announced Tuesday.
The airline said in a statement that it would operate three flights a week from its hub at Kigali International Airport to Charles de Gaulle Airport with Flight WB700 every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, and return flights on the same days.
Yvonne Makolo, RwandAir's chief executive, said France presents a major market for RwandAir connecting Africa and Europe continents through Kigali, the capital of Rwanda.
"The launch of our first-ever flights to Paris is an exciting development in RwandAir's continuing expansion and a testament to the importance of French-Rwandan relations," she said.
The announcement came days after the national flag carrier airline announced a codeshare with Turkish Airlines.
Passengers traveling to France from Africa will be able to reach Paris via Kigali in about eight hours.
This will be the 25th destination on the airline's route map. ■