Qatar Airways has resumed direct flights to Kigali, Rwanda, bringing its total African destinations to 30, as the Gulf carrier deepens its footprint across the continent and reinforces its strategic partnership with Rwanda through aviation and infrastructure.
The route, which restarted on June 25, will operate four times weekly, enhancing connectivity between Kigali and more than 170 destinations via the airline’s Doha hub, Hamad International Airport. The move strengthens Qatar Airways’ ties to East Africa and comes as it celebrates two decades of service to South Africa and Kenya.
“Africa is a vast, growing, and underserved market,” Chief Commercial Officer of Qatar Airways, Thierry Antinori said. “This resumption builds on our codeshare links with RwandAir and our involvement in the new Bugesera airport in Kigali. These partnerships reinforce our commitment to supporting trade, business, and tourism across the continent.”
The resumed service between Doha and Kigali is expected to boost regional socio-economic development by facilitating cargo, tourism, and business travel. Qatar Airways also operates significant cargo services from Africa, including ramping up Nairobi-Doha freighters earlier this year to meet increased demand during the Valentine’s Day season.
Qatar Airways is a shareholder in RwandAir and is collaborating with the Rwandan government on Kigali’s $1.3 billion Bugesera International Airport, slated to become a regional aviation hub. The Kigali route will be served by Airbus A320 aircraft configured with 12 flatbed Business Class seats and 120 in Economy.
The resumption also comes as Qatar Airways continues to raise the bar on inflight connectivity, announcing that all passengers on select African routes will gain access to its high-speed Starlink Wi-Fi—free of charge. The airline is the largest operator of Starlink-equipped Boeing 777 aircraft and recently partnered with IMG to bring live sports streaming to its onboard experience.
“Passengers can now stream, game, and work at 35,000 feet without interruption,” the airline said in a statement, touting the new service as the most advanced inflight Wi-Fi offering of any MENA-region airline.
The Doha–Kigali route will operate every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday. Flights depart Doha at 08:20 and arrive in Kigali at 13:30 local time. The return flight leaves Kigali at 15:50 and arrives in Doha at 22:50.
The airline has also launched a recruitment drive across the continent, building on its African workforce of over 8,500 employees. Its weekly seat capacity across Africa now exceeds 44,000, with additional schedule enhancements enabling seamless onward travel to key global cities including New York, London, Guangzhou, and Brussels.
Qatar Airways, recently named the World’s Best Airline by Skytrax, is leveraging its strategic partnerships, infrastructure investments, and inflight innovation to position itself as a dominant player in Africa’s aviation sector amid a continent-wide aviation renaissance.
