This archive report was first published on 12 November 2019.
On Monday, Uganda Airlines made history with its maiden direct flight from Entebbe to Mombasa, marking a significant milestone in the carrier's revival.
Flight number UG 301 touched down at the Mombasa International Airport at 1.05pm (1005GMT) with 74 passengers on board, marking the beginning of a new era in air travel between Kenya and Uganda.
The airline is banking on the route, which will operate three times a week, to boost trade and tourism between the two countries.
"The 1 hour 50-minutes flight trip will play a vital role to thousands of Uganda traders who depend on the Port of Mombasa to do business," said Harvey Kalama, the airline's operations manager. "More than 85 per cent of Uganda's imported cargo passes through the port, making this route a crucial link between the two nations."
Andrew Tumusiime, Uganda's head of administration, added that the airline is offering promotional fares of Ksh20,000 ($200) for a one-way ticket to woo more tourists to the coastal city.
"Tourism is Uganda's biggest foreign earner, and we hope to capitalise on the flights to bring our visitors to Mombasa for a beach holiday after enjoying our various sites in Uganda," said Mr Tumusiime.
With the launch of this new route, Uganda Airlines has become the seventh carrier to operate in Mombasa, following successful trips to Nairobi, Dar es Salam, Juba, Mogadishu, Bujumbura, and Zanzibar.
The airline is set to make an inaugural flight to Kilimanjaro International Airport on November 13, further solidifying its presence in the region.
