By
Moses Sserwanga
The management at the national
career - Uganda Airlines have been patient but steadfast working out the numbers on their new dynamic
routes which are setting the pace to resolve a chronic challenge of intra-air connectivity on the African continent
.
This strategic thinking and
interventions being implemented by the new management team at Uganda Airlines
led by CEO Jennifer Bamuturaki has attracted the sponsorship of the United
Nations Development Programme (UNDP) who are among several international
development partners interested in seeing the Africa air space opened up for
trade and development. The vast minerals rich continent has an estimated population
of 1.3 billion people.
Uganda Airlines inaugural service to Lagos Nigeria which was launched on Thursday
October 19th,2023 late afternoon is testament to the notion that
direct air transport connectivity is possible in Africa.
Flight UR 900 left Entebbe International Airport for Lagos Murtala
Muhammad International with 3 tons of cargo joining another Uganda Airlines flight from UR 430, which arrived earlier in
the day from Mumbai.
This meant that connecting
passengers and cargo had a direct flight from Entebbe to their final
destination in Lagos . The connecting passengers were joined by businesswomen
in the trade and tourism sectors who were sponsored by the United Nations Development
Programme (UNDP) to facilitate business-to-business linkages for export-ready
companies targeting opportunities in Lagos and the wider west African market.
As a strategic partner, the United
Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is collaborating with Uganda Airlines to
unpack opportunities that the new route brings in the context of trade and
tourism for inclusive and sustainable development.
Uganda Airlines will operate the direct
Lagos route three times a week with flights lined up for Mondays, Thursdays and Sundays.
This inauguaral service is strategic
in nature and makes business sense because of the cargo volumes expected between
Mumbai India and Lagos –Nigeria via the new Entebbe connecting hub .
Industry players have welcomed this
business strategic thinking by Uganda Airlines noting that it will spur trade
across Africa ,boost tourism and showcase a working network model that can
encourage other airlines and governments to open up the African airspace for commerce
and free movement of people .
“But now that Uganda Airlines has connecting
flights its important that government through the Civil Aviation Authority
expedites plans to improve facilities at Entebbe international airport to allow
the travelers have a truly Ugandan warm- welcoming experience at the lounging
facilities . We must build capacity to handle huge numbers of both people and
cargo otherwise all the efforts being undertaken by Uganda Airlines will be
ruined ,” Francis Musisi an aviation expert told ugandaupdatenews.com
Uganda Airlines CEO Jenifer
Bamuturaki stated thus :“Nigeria is Africa’s largest economy while Uganda’s
central location on the continent makes it the ideal connection hub between
East, West, North and Southern Africa,” at the Lagos route launch event .
Bamuturaki explained
the significant of Uganda Airlines network growth noting that apart from
alleviating the nightmare faced by travelers who endured long layoffs before
connecting to their final destinations via Europe , UA’s network is convenient and time saving .
“Nigeria is Africa’s largest economy
while Uganda’s central location on the continent makes it the ideal connection
hub between East, West, North and Southern Africa. The direct flights will
yield significant time savings for our guests who will be terminating their
journeys in Uganda and those who may wish to travel onward within our network
to Nairobi, Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar, Kilimanjaro, Mombasa, Juba, Bujumbura,
Kinshasa, Dubai, Mogadishu or Johannesburg and Mumbai,” Bamuturaki stated .
Uganda Airlines should also bring forward
its plans to grow its fleet by adding a couple of mid-range aircraft to meet increasing
demand for its services especially for movement of cargo .
On touching down in Lagos the Uganda
Airlines 258-seat state-of-the-art
Airbus A330-800 neo was according the time-honoured tradition -water salute. In this welcoming ritual, also known
as a shower of affection, two fire engines parked on either side of the runway
use their water cannons to create a giant arc above a plane as it taxies to its gate on its successful maiden route
.
You can book your Uganda Airlines ticket on
their mobile App
Email:msserwanga@gmail.com
