Kinshasa, 21 March 2019: The Republic of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have signed a bilateral air service agreement as a catalyst to future bilateral co-operation in trade and development between both countries.  

The agreement was initialed in Kinshasa, DRC by Jean Tshiumba Mpunga, Director General of the Civil Aviation Authority of the DRC and his Rwandan counterpart, Silas Udahemuka in the presence of Vital Kamerhe, Chief of Staff of the President of the DRC and Yvonne Manzi Makolo, Chief Executive Officer of RwandAir.

Under this agreement, Congo Airways and RwandAir can now serve a defined number of cities in both countries. RwandAir is expected to start flight services to Kinshasa and Goma in the coming months.

To date, there are no direct flight services between Kinshasa and Kigali, the capitals of the two neighboring countries. The shortest route is operated by Kenya Airways via Nairobi.