Rwanda national carrier RwandAir will Thursday start flights between Uganda and Kenya, flying twice daily from and to Entebbe and Nairobi.

The flights is a result of a memorandum of understanding signed between member countries of the East Africa Community and South Sudan which permitted negotiations of fifth freedom rights by carriers from the respective countries.

RwandAir is optimistic that the daily service on the Entebbe-Nairobi route will see an increase its passenger traffic.

“The new daily service from Entebbe to Nairobi will offer additional capacity conveniently and affordably suiting all travellers from both markets,” said John Mirenge RwandAir’s chief executive.

The airline will use dual class Bombardier CRJ900 aircraft on the route.

Gobena Mikael, the general manager commercial said that the flights will depart Entebbe at 9am and from Nairobi at 9pm.

“It will primarily cater for demands of the business and the short-stay traveller,” Mr Mikael said.

Last year, RwandAir launched direct flights between Entebbe and Juba. The Juba-Entebbe route continues to grow traffic especially after Air Uganda pulled out after three-month grounding.

READ: RwandAir starts Entebbe-Juba flights

RwandAir hopes to use the direct flights within East Africa capitals to create its brand as a favourable choice among travellers.

Private charter airline Fly-Sax also started flights to Entebbe early this month and Juba from Nairobi last year. The airline had previously exited the Juba route due to ownership change before making a comeback in 2014.