Malawi Airlines Announces Route Expansion

Malawi Airlines says it will launch flights to Mozambique, Rwanda, and Uganda. This is part of the airline’s route expansion strategy. According to NyasaTimes, the airline’s marketing manager, Only Taulo, said that the route expansion was a sign of growth for the airline.

Proposed destinations include Kigali in Rwanda as well as Nampula and Pemba in Mozambique. While launch dates are not yet known, Kigali flights are likely to commence soon while services to Pemba and Nampula are expected a little later this year. The airline also plans to start flights to Entebbe in Uganda in late 2024.

Malawi Airlines’ route expansion is viewed as a positive step that could generate increased foreign exchange revenues, underscoring the important economic role played by the aviation sector.

Boost For Tourism Sector

Dean of Tourism at Malawi’s Mzuzu University, Dr Lameck Zetu Khonje, welcomed the announcement, saying it was a positive move for Malawi’s tourism industry. In an effort to boost tourist arrivals, Malawi lifted visa restrictions for nationals of 79 countries in February.

The small African country has an economy that is predominantly agriculture-based. However, it also has a significant tourist economy, centered around Lake Malawi. The lake is the fourth largest freshwater lake in the world by volume, the ninth largest in the world by area, and the third largest and second deepest in Africa. 

Khonje also said that Rwanda and Mozambique were key tourist destinations and that introducing services to these destinations stood to benefit the local economy. Furthermore, he predicts that the nonstop flight links could drive visitor flows to Malawi. Khonje emphasized the broader benefits of connecting tourism hotspots across the region.

Malawi Airlines

Malawi Airlines is the flag carrier of Malawi, with its hub at Lilongwe International Airport. The airline was established in 2012 after the liquidation of former national airline, Air Malawi. Ethiopian Airlines, which owns 49% of Malawi Airlines, now operates the carrier under a management contract.

Malawi Airlines offers a compact route network with its fleet consisting of two Boeing 737-800 aircraft. Domestic operations include Blantyre and Lilongwe. International routes served include Nairobi, Kenya; Johannesburg, South Africa; Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Lusaka, Zambia; and Harare, Zimbabwe.  

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Lorne Philipot

Lorne is a South Africa-based aviation journalist. He was captivated and fascinated by flying from the day he took his first airline flight. With a passion for aviation in his blood, he has flown to destinations in all corners of the globe. Lorne has traveled extensively and lived in various countries. Drawing on his travels and passion for aviation, Lorne enjoys writing about airlines, routes, networks, and new developments.

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