Uganda Airlines Begins Flying, Eyes 20 Destinations By 2021

East African startup Uganda Airlines has launched operations with scheduled service between Entebbe and Nairobi, Kenya, marking the start of a plan that foresees 20 destinations by the end of 2021. State-run Uganda Airlines, which secured its air operator’s certificate in July, performed its first flight to Nairobi on Aug. 27, followed by its inaugural service to Juba, South Sudan, on Aug. 28.

Uganda Airlines said its fleet of twin-engined Bombardier CRJ-900 regional jet airliners will soon connect to destinations including Dar-es-Salaam in Tanzania, Mogadishu in Somalia and Juba in South Sudan.
More farther flung places will follow, says Jennifer Bamuturaki, the airline's director of marketing and public affairs. Services to Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Zimbabwe, Ghana, South Africa, and Rwanda are expected to be added from September.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Good morning, please be informed that you can now book your ticket to any destination of your choice on our website. Follow link and book early bird tickets at lowest prices on the market. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FlyUgandaAirlines?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FlyUgandaAirlines</a><a href="https://t.co/coM1RfjUjQ">https://t.co/coM1RfjUjQ</a> <a href="https://t.co/mXhhU3a0Ui">pic.twitter.com/mXhhU3a0Ui</a></p>&mdash; Uganda Airlines (@UG_Airlines) <a href="https://twitter.com/UG_Airlines/status/1164082083947569152?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 21, 2019</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The airline was initially scheduled to resume operations in July but had to gain certification to prove its crews can fly safely to any part of the world.
Passenger traffic to boost the economy
The revival of the brand, orginally founded by dictator Idi Amin in 1977 but grounded in 2001 amid financial difficulties, is aimed at capitalizing on opportunities in agriculture, minerals, tourism and oil and gas sectors, said Monica Ntege Azuba, Uganda's minister of works and transport.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Captain Charles Karabarinde who flew our Aircraft to Juba this morning also spoke to journalists from South Sudan and colleagues from Uganda we travelled with.<br><br>We thank you all for flying with us to Juba and hope to see you again soon. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LetsGo?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LetsGo</a> <br><br>FlyUgandaAirlines <a href="https://t.co/nidR6iHgDF">pic.twitter.com/nidR6iHgDF</a></p>&mdash; Uganda Airlines (@UG_Airlines) <a href="https://twitter.com/UG_Airlines/status/1166694529208115200?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 28, 2019</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Recent years have seen growing international interest in Uganda as a vacation destination with travelers drawn by beautiful national parks, beach resorts and wildlife such as rare mountain gorillas.
Increased passenger traffic at the country's Entebbe International Airport will contribute to the country's national economy, Vianney Luggya of the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority said.
Luggya said Entebbe's 1.85 million annual passengers could rise to match the 7 million experienced by Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Kenya.

"This is largely attributed to the fact that they have a national airline," he said. "Airports like Jomo Kenyatta International Airport earn a lot of foreign exchange from transit passengers."
Uganda Airlines flew to eight destinations and had a fleet of 15 aircraft at the time of its closure in 2001 when a more than a decade of financial difficulties resulted in its liquidation.
In the same year, an attempt to resurrect the government-owned airline through a private sector initiative was made. But the operation did not last long as a result of limited capital.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Upon arrival at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi, our counterparts welcomed us with a water salute. <br><br>The reception here is amazing.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LetsGo?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LetsGo</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FlyUgandaAirlines?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FlyUgandaAirlines</a> <a href="https://t.co/DxBwom6ty3">pic.twitter.com/DxBwom6ty3</a></p>&mdash; Uganda Airlines (@UG_Airlines) <a href="https://twitter.com/UG_Airlines/status/1166310906491486209?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 27, 2019</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
To compete with big regional players like Ethiopia Airlines and Kenya Airlines, the relaunched Uganda Airlines is running promotional fares that will run for two months.
Nairobi and Mombasa return tickets cost $278 and $325 respectively. Return tickets to Mogadishu, Somalia, and Juba, South Sudan, cost $590 and $225 respectively.
"Passengers have the choice of paying their ticket fares in US dollars or Uganda shillings," said Bamuturaki.

August 29, 2019