This archive report was first published on 24 August 2019.
Uganda Airlines is set to take to the skies on Wednesday, marking the first time in nearly 18 years that the national carrier will be operational. The airline's most booked route out of its four initial destinations is Mogadishu, a testament to the strong Somali community living in Kampala.
According to Uganda Airlines' commercial director, Jenifer Bamuturaki, the high demand for the Mogadishu route is due to a combination of factors, including the airline's direct flights from Entebbe to Mogadishu and the convenience it offers to the Somali community.
The airline's initial destinations will include Nairobi, Dar-es Salaam, Juba, and Mogadishu, with the first flight expected to leave Entebbe at 6.00am and land at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Nairobi at 7.15am. The Mogadishu flight will leave Entebbe at 5.37pm and land at Aden Adde International Airport at 8:00pm.
Uganda Airlines is currently the only airline flying direct from Entebbe to Mogadishu, with Kenya Airways and Ethiopian Airways making stopovers at their hubs before connecting.
Ms. Bamuturaki also revealed that the airline plans to increase the number of flights from Entebbe to Mogadishu from four a week to six a week in the near future.
As part of its expansion plans, the airline has also announced promotional rates for its initial routes, with return tickets costing between $225 and $590.
The government has also made a down payment of Ush74 billion ($20 million) on two Airbus A330-800 Neos, which will be used for long haul flights and are expected to be in the country between 2020 and 2021.
