Uganda has revamped its efforts to ensure its national carrier, Uganda Airlines becomes profitable. The airline has already made its intention by securing six regional routes: Nairobi, Bujumbura, Dar Es Salaam, and Juba. On Thursday, it announced plans to launch its maiden flight between Entebbe and Dar-es-Salaam.
Tanzania, tunakuja! We can’t wait to taste the Bongo flavor and sink our feet into your beautiful sandy beaches. Uganda Airlines, flying Soon.#FlyUgandaAirlines pic.twitter.com/vzBFbQQmmO
— Uganda Airlines (@UG_Airlines) July 10, 2019
The airline is scheduled to commence commercial flights in July after completing the Air Operator Certification (AOC certification) process with the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority.
READ:
- Uganda Airline to Make Maiden Flight to Nairobi
- Air Connectivity, Visa-on-arrival Policies to Bolster Kenya’s Hotel Sector Growth – Report
The process includes demonstrating that the airline has proper operating premises, trained staff, maintenance providers, tools and equipment as well as structures and systems to enable the safe and secure operation of international commercial flights.
The airline will also be required to complete flight tests on the routes to be operated with its crews to meet minimum hours for issuance of the Air Operator Certificate and validation of the crew licences as per the regulations.
12 pilots and 12 co-pilots have been trained and certified. The airline is expecting a third jet in July and a fourth one in September.
Uganda Airlines said during the process, they would make formal application to countries with whom they have Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASAs) to give them rights to operate in their airspace.
“Currently Uganda has signed forty-seven BASAs with other countries which will need to be activated. The designation is accomplished by the Aeronautical Authority (Ministry of Works and Transport) notifying to her counterpart in the other contracting states through diplomatic channels.”
Uganda’s tourism sector ranks as the highest foreign exchange earning sector.
Matia Kasaija, Uganda’s Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development during his Financial Year 2019/20 Budget Speech, he said, “ In 2018, foreign receipts from tourism reached US$ 1.02 billion, with 1.6 million international tourist arrivals being recorded.”
