This archive report was first published on 3 May 2021.
RwandAir, the national carrier of Rwanda, has suspended its flights to Mumbai, India, effective May 1, 2021, in response to the unprecedented surge in coronavirus cases in the Asian country.
According to a statement issued by RwandAir, the suspension of flights will remain in effect until further notice. Affected customers can rebook and fly at a later date at no additional cost, or request a travel voucher or refund.
India has reported over 300,000 new coronavirus cases for a 12th straight day, taking its overall caseload to just shy of 20 million. The country's total infections stand at 19.93 million, while total fatalities are 218,959, according to Health ministry data.
Medical experts say real numbers across the country of 1.35 billion may be five to 10 times higher than the official tally. This has driven various airlines to suspend flights to the country, including Kenya Airways and Uganda Airlines.
Although the number of people travelling to India from Rwanda had considerably reduced, the temporary suspension of flights to the country will affect others, especially those travelling for medical purposes. India has positioned itself as a medical tourism destination, with Rwanda being one of the countries whose citizens have been increasingly travelling to India for treatment.
Seema Malhotra, an official at the Indian High Commission in Rwanda, advised people not to travel to India at this time, citing the poor health situation in the country.
