South African Airways (SAA) today launched flights to two more destinations northwards in Africa. It now flies from Johannesburg to Kigali in Rwanda and onwards to Bujumbura in Burundi. This is in line with the airline’s Africa growth plans, the airline says in a statement.

Travellers and freight on the Kigali-Bujumbura-Kigali sectors will allow for growth in the Great Lakes region of Central and Eastern Africa, thereby increasing intra-regional connectivity. “SAA is focused on strengthening its intra-Africa network in line with its Africa Expansion strategy,” says Theunis Potgieter, SAA General Manager Commercial. “Adding even more destinations to our already extensive Africa route network gives our customers more travel options to exciting destinations that were previously difficult to reach by air.”

In addition to being the capital city of Rwanda, Kigali is also its economic, cultural and tourist transit hub. Bujumbura is Burundi’s largest city and is close to the country’s main port, shipping coffee as its primary export. The route between Johannesburg to Kigali and onwards to Bujumbura will be serviced three times a week by SAA’s A319 aircraft which accommodate 120 passengers in a two class (business and economy) configuration. The flight is scheduled to connect with the rest of SAA’s African and international route network.