Uganda Airlines celebrates first year of operations after re-launch
Uganda’s revived national carrier, Uganda Airlines, celebrated its first year of operations since it took to the skies after almost 20 years since it was liquidated by the government. According to the Chief Executive Officer of Uganda National Airline Company, Cornwell Muleya, over 75,000 passengers have been transported over the course of the year.
As the airport awaits reopening (following closure due to the COVID-19 global pandemic) , Cornwell Muleya announced that the company has also finalized the recruitment of staff to work in new larger aircraft for the longer routes. that Uganda Airlines plans to start flying.
Uganda Airlines was re-launched using six new jets, two of which are wide-body, long-range A330-800neo and the other four being CRJ900 aircraft. The government of Uganda made an equity investment of approximately US$70 million and loans totaling $330 million, borrowed from regional lenders such as the Trade and Development Bank, to complete the purchase.
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, Uganda Airlines shall continue with its plans to make its mark on the African continent and beyond.
Until its revival, Uganda had been without a national airline since a previous incarnation of Uganda Airlines collapsed in 2001. Meanwhile, privately owned Air Uganda ceased operations five years ago.
It is expected that when Kabaale International Airport is completed in 2021, a network of flights to local, regional and international destinations, will be developed around the new airport.
“Our plans are ongoing and on course, we committed at the beginning that in addition to developing the regional networks of which we have developed nine, we still have a few more to get to the eighteen or twenty that we require for Africa. We said we are going to extend the network to intercontinental destinations, we want to go to London, we want to go to Dubai, we want to go to Guangzhou with the A330s. As a start we also want to connect to West Africa and Southern Africa where that capacity is required.
“The company has also finalized the recruiting staff for two new Airibus A330 aircraft that are expected in the country by December so we have been busy bringing in the skills that will require pilots , engineers ,flight attendants and a lot more skills that are required for that aircraft so we can look forward to next year,” said Muleya.
This year embattled South African airways that had direct flights to OR Tambo International Airport, Johannesburg out of Entebbe International Airport closed shop in a restructuring of its regional routes creating an opportunity for the national carrier to fill the gap prior to the lock down in March.
Uganda Airport Closed
Meanwhile, Uganda airspace remains closed to international scheduled passenger flights as the Civil Aviation Authority puts in place Standard Operational Procedures (SOPS) in observance of COVID-19 requirements.
Initially founded under the Idi Amin’s regime, following the collapse of East African Airlines, Uganda Airlines was established in 1976 as the National Carrier. Airlines’ operations also included the lucrative ground and cargo handling until its liquidation in 2001.
