Omani low-cost carrier SalamAir launched twice-weekly nonstop service between Muscat and Kigali on July 21, 2026, marking the first direct air connection between Oman and Rwanda.
The inaugural flight from Muscat arrived at Kigali International Airport on Tuesday, July 21, with ongoing services operating every Tuesday and Thursday, as confirmed by Rwanda Television (RBA), which reported on the arrival of the first aircraft. The flight covers the distance in approximately five hours and 50 minutes, according to ATTA, the African Travel and Tourism Association.
The launch follows a series of bilateral cooperation agreements signed between Rwanda and Oman in early 2026, covering aviation, logistics, investment in Bugesera International Airport infrastructure, and technology. ATTA reports that the route is expected to support trade, tourism, and investment between East Africa and the Middle East, with onward connections available through SalamAir's wider network across the Gulf, Asia, and Europe.
SalamAir is a low-cost carrier wholly owned by the Sultanate of Oman's government. The Kigali route is the airline's second new international launch in July 2026, following a new Muscat-Medan service that commenced July 3. The new flight also aligns with Rwanda's strategy of building Kigali into a regional aviation hub ahead of the opening of Bugesera International Airport.
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