Uganda Airlines Acquires New Planes As It Ups Its Level In the Competitive EAC Market

Uganda Airlines has acquired a new Bombardier CRJ900 aircraft almost a month after it resumed operations.

The purchase of the USD 56 Million aircraft signifies the carrier’s efforts in the expansion of its route list as it joins the flooded air space in East Africa.

The EA aviation space is flooded with big regional players like Ethiopia Airlines and Kenya Airways and small players like AirTanzania, and RwandaAir.

In order to boost expansion efforts, the carrier is also expected to take delivery of two more planes in October.

Ms. Jennifer Bamuturaki, the airline’s Commercial Director confirmed that the airline will increase its flights to Mogadishu (four times a week), to Bujumbura (three times a week), Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana, and other destinations.

“We are expecting two more Bombardier planes in October this year. Once we have the aircraft delivered to our fleet, we will increase our flights to Mogadishu to six times a week.

“We shall be flying three times a day from Monday to Friday and twice a day every Saturday and Sunday. We shall fly to Lusaka, Johannesburg, Zanzibar, and Kigali coming online,” she said.

Part of its strategy to expand further is the use of promotional fares that will run for two months. For instance, Nairobi and Mombasa return tickets cost USD 278 and USD 325 respectively while return tickets to Mogadishu, Somalia, and Juba, South Sudan, cost USD 590 and USD 225 respectively.

Prior to its closure in 2001, Uganda Airlines flew to eight destinations and had a fleet of 15 aircraft, the operation of the airline stalled after it was hit by financial difficulties which led to its liquidation.

Featured Image Courtesy: East Africa Business Week