Kigali: The Rwandan airline, Rwandair Express, will become a member of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) in December 2009, the airline's Executive Chairman said.

"This is the first time a Rwandan airline is expected to be member of the intern ational association," official Amb. Gerald Zirimwabagado told the press here Thursday, without elaborating.

"We are pleased that Rwanda Express has now met IATA requirements," Zirimwabagad o said even as he announced the acquisition of two new aircraft to strengthen th e quality of services offered to the customers by the company.

So far this year, Rwandair has made a profit of US$ 97.3 million.

Zirimwabagado explained that the sale of tickets accounted for 20% of the compan y's total earnings with the remaining coming from partnerships with other intern a tional airlines such as the Kenya Airways, Brussels Airline and Virgin Atlantic.

Rwanda Express operates daily flights to Nairobi (Kenya), Johannesburg (South Af rica), Bujumbura (Burundi), Arusha (Tanzania) and Entebbe (Uganda).