South African Express Airways applies for a 4 weekly service between Johannesburg and Kigali
16/03/2015
According to the South Africa Green Gazette issued, last week, South African Express Airways plans to serve Kigali, 4 times a week. It’s too early to know when the airline will start to serve Rwanda, and what aircraft they will use.
SA Express will probably use the CRJ-700, which is probably more appropriate for the Rwandan market.
Its “big sister”, South African Airways has served Kigali, in the past. From 2003 and 2006 and from 2012 to 2013.
The airline used aircraft such as, Boeing 737-800, A319 or A320 (120 seats – 157 seats), which were too big for the Rwandan market. Furthermore, RwandAir operates a daily service to Johannesburg, thanks to its good reputation attracts many passengers, flying between Kigali and Johannesburg.
About SA Express (Wiki) :
South African Express Airways SOC Ltd, known as South African Express or simply SA Express, is a state-owned airline based in South Africa that started operations on 24 April 1994. Although the airline is operationally independent of South African Airways, its flights are incorporated within the strategic alliance with South African Airways. The airline has its head office at Airways Park, Jones Road, next to O.R. Tambo International Airport in Kempton Park, Ekurhuleni, Gauteng.
Related :South African Express Airways already planned to fly to Rwanda, in 2010 (see the article posted on 10 August 2010).
Airlink plans daily service between Johannesburg and Kigali using an ERJ-135 (replacing by SA Express)
14/01/2015
We received an email some days ago from the Airlink Marketing Analyst, where he has confirmed us that Airlink (the real name is South African Airlink) has the intention to begin service to Kigali.
Dear *******
Thank you kindly for your enquiry regarding Airlink services into Eastern Africa.
“It is our intention to launch scheduled air services into Kigali, Bujumbura and Francistown. We would like to keep your contact details on file and we will be sending you further information once the planned schedule has been loaded on the reservations system.”
I sincerely hope you find the above in order and please feel free to contact me for any further assistance.
Kind Regards
Watch this space, for more news.
31/10/2014
According the South African Gazette issued last month, Airlink plans to serve Kigali 7 times a week using an ERJ 135 (see the picture above).
(A) SA Airlink (Pty) Ltd; Airlink. (B) Airlink Building, No. 3 Greenstone Hill Office
Park, Greenstone Hill, Modderfontein. (C) Class I; I/S073. (D) Type S 1. (E) Category
Al. (F) OR Tambo International Airport. (G) and (H) Adding the following.
State Destination Frequencies
Botswana Maun Three (3) return flights per week (with 83 seats)
Botswana Francistown Seven (7) return flights per week (with 37 seats)
Rwanda Kigali Seven (7) return flights per week (with 37 seats)
Burundi Bujumbura Seven (7) return flights per week (with 37 seats)
About Airlink :
Airlink’s origins are rooted in three small airlines, Magnum Airlines, Border Air and City Air, which merged to form Link Airways in the ‘80s. Subsequently, Link Airways was liquidated in 1992. After Rodger Foster and Barrie Webb, the two founders, had successfully bid for the business, they named the newly acquired airline ‘Airlink’.
In 1997 SA Airlink joined South African Airways and South African Express in a powerful strategic alliance which led to the establishment of the leading aviation network in Africa.
Today, Airlink is largest independent regional airline in southern Africa, linking passengers to the smaller towns, cities and regional centres than any other local airline servicing more than 30 destinations in Southern Africa, utilising a fleet of Jetstream 41 aircraft, ERJ 135 jet aircraft and BAe RJ85 aircraft.
