SalamAir Launches Muscat–Kigali Direct Flights to Strengthening Oman–Rwanda Connectivity, Expand African Network and Support Tourism and Business Travel Growth

Written By: Gishan Das

Gishan Das

Gishan Das is a dedicated graduate with academic backgrounds in History and Political Science and practical experience in journalism and digital content creation. He completed his History Honours from Serampore College under the University of Calcutta and Political Science Honours from Indira Gandhi National Open University in 2025. His academic credentials are supported by professional certifications including a B2 level Certification in French language, NISM Financial Education certification in collaboration with the Aditya Birla Group alongside Gishan has strong expertise in journalism, news research and SEO-based content writing. He has demonstrated skills in news analysis, fact-checking, headline creation, digital storytelling and search-optimized reporting, which are also reflected in the journalism and media skills

See Full Bio

July 24, 2026 6:19 PM

SalamAir has started a new route from Muscat directly to Kigali, thereby establishing yet another air link between the Arabian Peninsula and East Africa and further extending the network of its budget airline operating in Africa. This route was introduced into the schedule of SalamAir for the month of July 2026 starting from 21st July, subsequent to the start of booking from 30th April 2026.

The flights run twice weekly on Tuesdays and Thursdays. This route allows direct access between the major international airport of Oman and the capital of Rwanda, facilitating leisure travelers as well as business operations. The service runs at limited frequencies but gives an opportunity to the airline to assess the demand potential.

A Twice-Weekly Connection Creates a New Low-Cost Travel Option

The launch gives passengers a direct, low-cost option between Muscat International Airport and Kigali without requiring an intermediate transfer. Before the route entered the schedule, many travellers moving between the two cities depended on connecting itineraries through other regional hubs. Flights are scheduled on Tuesday and Thursday, making the service suitable for short business journeys, extended leisure stays and one-stop travel through Muscat. The operating pattern may also allow passengers to combine Rwanda with destinations elsewhere in SalamAir’s network, although connection suitability will depend on individual flight timings and minimum transfer requirements.

SalamAir’s July timetable places Kigali alongside other African destinations served from Muscat, including Nairobi, Cairo and Port Sudan. The wider network also covers major cities in the Gulf, South Asia, Central Asia and Europe. This geographical spread could help the Kigali route attract passengers who are not travelling only between Oman and Rwanda but are connecting through Muscat from other markets. The official launch announcement did not publish a permanent aircraft type or guarantee fixed fares for every departure. Travellers should therefore verify the operating aircraft, baggage allowance, departure time and complete fare conditions when booking.

Kigali’s Tourism Growth Gives the Route a Strong Commercial Foundation

The addition of Kigali is supported by Rwanda’s growing tourism economy. Official data from the Rwanda Development Board show that the country welcomed 1.49 million visitors in 2025, representing an annual increase of approximately 9 per cent. Tourism revenue reached US$685 million, rising from US$647 million during the previous year. These figures suggest that the new route is entering a market with expanding international demand rather than relying entirely on existing bilateral traffic. Rwanda has built its tourism identity around wildlife, conservation, national parks, cultural experiences and high-value travel, with Kigali functioning as the main arrival point for many international visitors.

The capital acts as a base for journeys to Volcanoes National Park, Akagera National Park and Nyungwe National Park. Rwanda’s tourism development strategy also seeks to raise annual tourism income to US$1.1 billion by 2029, creating a strong policy incentive to improve air access from emerging source markets. A direct service from Muscat could attract Omani residents seeking African wildlife and nature-based holidays. It may also appeal to expatriate communities living in Oman and passengers travelling from other SalamAir markets through Muscat.

Rwanda’s Expanding MICE Economy Could Support Year-Round Demand

Leisure travel is only one part of the route’s potential. Kigali has developed a significant meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions sector, giving the new service access to business demand outside traditional holiday periods. Rwanda’s MICE industry generated US$94.7 million in 2025, up from US$84.8 million in 2024. The country hosted 165 international and regional events during the year, according to official development data. This segment recorded annual revenue growth of around 11 per cent.

Conference traffic can be particularly valuable for a twice-weekly route because delegates often travel on fixed dates and stay for several nights. The service may be used by government representatives, investors, technology businesses, tourism organisations, logistics specialists and companies participating in events in either Muscat or Kigali. However, two weekly flights offer less flexibility than a daily connection. Travellers attending time-sensitive meetings will need to align their programmes with the operating days or use alternative airlines for one sector of a journey. Future frequency growth will therefore depend on whether the route develops a dependable mix of tourism, corporate, visiting-friends-and-relatives and connecting traffic.

Muscat Could Become a Gateway Between Rwanda and Asian Markets

The commercial importance of the new service extends beyond travellers originating in Oman. Muscat can function as a transfer point between Kigali and SalamAir’s wider network, especially across India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Thailand and the Gulf. The airline’s July 2026 schedule includes services from Muscat to cities such as Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Kozhikode, Chennai, Dhaka, Chattogram, Karachi, Islamabad, Lahore, Bangkok, Riyadh, Jeddah and Sharjah. Their availability of these routes gives SalamAir the potential to market Kigali to a much larger passenger base than the Omani market alone.

This opportunity is commercially relevant because Asia contributed thousands of Rwanda’s air arrivals for business, holidays and visits during 2025. Rwanda’s national travel survey also shows that air passengers generate a major share of the country’s travel-service receipts, making international aviation capacity important to tourism income. Successful connecting traffic will nevertheless depend on practical details. Schedules must offer reasonable transfer times, through-ticketing must be available, and baggage arrangements must be clear. A destination appearing in the same airline network does not automatically guarantee a convenient same-day connection.

The Route Builds on Deeper Oman–Rwanda Cooperation

The launch forms part of a broader strengthening of relations between Oman and Rwanda. The two countries established diplomatic relations in March 1998, while their commercial connections stretch back considerably further through historic trading activity. In January 2026, the countries signed four cooperation agreements and programmes covering logistics, dry ports, supply chains, data centres, cloud computing, infrastructure and artificial intelligence. Enhanced air connectivity was identified as an important element of that expanding partnership.

The SalamAir route can support these initiatives by reducing the travel friction faced by business delegations, technical teams and investors. Direct flights do not create trade or investment automatically, but they make meetings easier to arrange, reduce total journey times and improve the visibility of both markets. For Oman, greater air connectivity supports its wider economic diversification agenda. Oman Vision 2040 calls for accessible transport, integrated infrastructure and stronger links with international markets. The country’s transport ministry also identifies airports and global connectivity as tools for supporting trade, tourism and sustainable economic growth.

Entry Rules Remain Important for Muscat–Kigali Passengers

Passengers should check immigration requirements before travelling, even though the route is direct. Rwanda permits citizens of every country to obtain a visa on arrival without making a prior application. However, the period of stay, applicable charge and exemption arrangements differ according to nationality. Citizens from qualifying African Union, Commonwealth and La Francophonie countries can receive a 30-day visa on arrival without a fee, while other travellers may be required to pay. Rwanda also allows eligible visitors to submit an online application through its official government system before departure.

Passengers travelling from Rwanda to Oman should use the official Royal Oman Police electronic visa service to determine the correct category. Rwanda appears within Oman’s eVisa eligibility system, but the available visa type may depend on passport details, residency status, sponsorship and supporting documentation. Visa eligibility should never be assumed solely because a direct flight operates. Travellers must also verify passport validity, vaccination or health documentation, return-ticket conditions and any transit requirements connected with onward journeys.

The Next Test Will Be Whether Demand Supports More Flights

However, the Muscat-Kigali launch provides SalamAir with a competitive edge in Africa, besides giving Rwanda yet another opportunity for direct connection to the Gulf region. The impact of this connection on the future depends upon the number of passengers flying the route, ticket prices, scheduling and the airline’s ability to foster connections through its network in Muscat. A twice weekly flight can be considered as a relatively conservative step towards establishing connections with Kigali compared to increasing flight capacity.

From the point of view of passengers, the benefits of having this connection are evident. Oman and Rwanda are now linked together by a low cost scheduled service, which makes traveling between Muscat and Kigali much easier, as well as allows more opportunities for tourism and investments.

Image Source: SalamAir