Oman Air Cargo will begin a new service between Muscat and Kigali in June, aiming to boost trade flows between East Africa and the Middle East, reports London's Air Cargo News.

The route will be operated with a Boeing 737 aircraft and is expected to carry perishables and time-sensitive cargo. The airline said Muscat will serve as a transit hub for shipments moving to Europe and the Middle East.

Michael Duggan, head of cargo at Oman Air, said demand between the Middle East and Africa was growing, particularly for perishables and specialist cargo. He added the new route would provide exporters with reliable access to the carrier's global network.

Produce such as fruit, vegetables and flowers, along with pharmaceuticals, general cargo and express shipments, are expected to move on the service. Cargo arriving in Muscat will connect onward to Europe, the Middle East and the Indian subcontinent.

Oman Air Cargo also plans to launch a Muscat-Singapore service in July using a Boeing 737 MAX aircraft. The carrier has expanded its cargo operations recently, announcing five new General Sales Agent partnerships in November that will add offline routes to Australia and Japan.