Ugandans are an exited lot after the country’s national airline, Uganda Airlines, announced plans to make its first trip to Nairobi for the first time in over 30 years.
A CRJ 900 plane is to make its maiden flight to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport next month.
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However, what has exited customers on the route is its pricing. According to Uganda Airlines website, an Economy class return ticket for the Entebbe –Nairobi will cost Ksh.16,720, about US$ 167.00.
Speaking to the media, this is what Ugandan Works and Transport Minister said, ’the objective is to increase Uganda’s competitiveness by reducing the cost of air transport and ease of connectivity to and from Uganda.
Moved Forward
The launch was scheduled for July this year but the airline failed to obtain the Air Operator Certificate in time and the maiden flight had to be rescheduled for next month.
Earlier this year, Uganda bought two CRJ 900 planes in a bid to revive an airline that went under more than 30 years ago.
This is after an incident in 2015 that pitted the president of Uganda Yoweri Museveni against Kenya Airways in which the airline turned down a request to pick him up from his home to Nairobi for a scheduled meeting with Kenya’s president Uhuru Kenyatta. Museveni would later travel on Ethiopian Airlines to the meeting with other regional heads.
Following the revival of Uganda Airlines, Ugandas took to social media to approve the move with one saying that “I can’t wait to start accumulating my miles flying Uganda Airlines.”
The airline brings competition on a route that is already dominated by other regional airlines, Kenya Airways and Ethiopia Airlines.
However, it is expected that the stiff competition will bring down prices for business people and other travelers who frequently fly the route.
