Uganda Airlines returns

Africa achieved a new aviation goal last week with the reincarnation of Uganda Airlines, nearly 20 years after the national carrier was grounded amid financial difficulties.

The company, now led by CEO Ephraim Bagenda, has re-equipped with two Bombardier CRJ900 regional jets (BTN 22 April) and has two A330-800s on order from Airbus which are scheduled for delivery late next year.

Commercial services began again last week with a flight from Entebbe to Nairobi and the airline said it was planning to deploy the CRJs to more African destinations soon, including Dar-es-Salaam, Mogadishu and Juba in South Sudan.

Director of marketing and public affairs Jennifer Bamuturaki said longer flights to the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Zimbabwe, Ghana and South Africa are expected to be added from this month.

The airline was initially scheduled to resume operations in July but had to gain certification for worldwide operation.

Uganda minister of works and transport Monica Ntege Azuba said the return of Uganda Airlines, founded by the country’s leader Idi Amin in 1977 before ending operations in 2001, was aimed at capitalising on opportunities in agriculture, minerals and the oil and gas sectors, as well as tourism.

www.ugandaairlines.com

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