Uganda Airlines, Six Others Defend Air Service License Applications

Two companies, that include the UK based Aero Maintenance Company Limited and the Ugandan based Eagle Air Limited, have applied to the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) for air service licenses.

“Aero Maintenance Company Ltd applied for a new license to operate non-scheduled passenger and cargo (international and domestic) while Eagle Air Ltd applied for Aerial Work (Aerial Survey and photography),” UCAA announced.

Officials at the national carrier this week defended their application to renew their licence of operations before the Board Air Service Licensing Committee of Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

This comes after the civil aviation conducted a public hearing to interact with stakeholders from the aviation industry to consider deferent applications and renewal of licence by the regulators.

Uganda Airlines chief executive Jenifer Bamuturaki said the airlines has registered 66 percent of internally generated funds to facilitate its operations away from government support and this is attributed to its newly opened routes and increase in number of passengers.

“The government supports us with almost 34 percent," she said, "our vision is to be completely independent and instead support the government as Uganda Airlines.”

She added the national carrier is set to fly to China.

"We are looking at the route to Guangzhou, the teams have already submitted all requirements needed by the Chinese authorities,” Bamuturaki revealed.

Two air operators, including Aero Maintenance Company Ltd, joined Uganda Airlines, seeking to operate a non-scheduled passenger and cargo service and eagle air seeking to operate aerial work including survey and photography in the air space are part of the licence applicants.

The Board chairperson of Air Service Licensing Committee, Justice Steven Kavuma, said: "I’m so glad that Uganda airlines and CAA are working together to improve the operations with in the aviation industry.”

The applicants have to be approved by the regulators in a period of 30 days to start their operations.

Last year, the civil aviation authority successfully passed the Universal Safety Audit Oversight(USAO) under International Civil Aviation Organization(ICAO) with over 72.2% ,a best performance on safety.

Deputy Director General, CAA, Olive Birungi Lumonya said the stakeholders meeting aimed at discussing regulations, strategic plans , challenges among others across the aviation industry.

In January 2024, Entebbe recorded 99,216 arriving passengers and 96,995 departing passengers, a total of 196,211 passengers, which is an average of 6,329 per day.

March 09, 2024