• Oman Air plans to launch its first direct sub-Saharan Africa route with flights from Muscat to Kigali starting in June 2026, subject to regulatory approval.

• The new route aims to strengthen trade, investment, tourism, and MICE connectivity between the Gulf and East Africa.

• The move places Oman Air in direct competition with Gulf carriers that continue to expand aggressively across Africa.

Oman Air, the national carrier of the Sultanate of Oman, announced the upcoming launch of its first direct flights to sub-Saharan Africa with a new service to Kigali, Rwanda. The airline plans to operate the route from Muscat starting in June 2026, subject to regulatory approvals. Consequently, the new service will mark a key step in strengthening air connectivity between the Gulf and East Africa.

The announcement comes as Rwanda positions itself as a leading emerging destination in East Africa, particularly for tourism and the MICE segment, which covers meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions. According to the Omani government, direct flights to Kigali will enhance international connectivity and support trade, investment, and broader economic cooperation. Kigali will therefore join Oman Air’s African network, which currently focuses mainly on North Africa, including Cairo in Egypt.

Oman Air’s African expansion also takes place amid a sharp increase in Gulf airline activity across the continent. Carriers such as Emirates, Qatar Airways, and Etihad Airways have expanded African routes in recent years while strengthening code-sharing agreements with local airlines.

Qatar Airways continues to adopt one of the most aggressive strategies in Africa. The airline holds equity stakes in RwandAir and Airlink and ranks among the main financiers of Rwanda’s new Bugesera International Airport. Developers currently build the airport about 25 kilometers from Kigali with an estimated investment of $2 billion.

This article was initially published in French by Henoc Dossa

Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum