Uganda Airlines has commenced direct connectivity to Lagos from Entebbe International Airport with three weekly flights to Lagos, thereby deepening competition on international route.

Flights from Nigeria to other African countries have continued to take several hours as a result of poor connectivity.

When the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) was launched in January 2018, it was enthusiastically embraced as the key that would unlock air travel in Africa.

Although 33 countries in the continent are signatories to the project, many countries in Africa have not open their airspace for a single air market in the continent.

Uganda airlines is however changing this narrative with direct flight from Africa’s most populated country.

Abuja and Kano, have been approved as entry points for the airline by the federal government under the Bilateral Air Services Agreement, BASA, between both nations in line with the Single Africa Air Transport Market, SAATM.

The launch of flight services to Lagos by Uganda’s flag carrier, Uganda Airlines would help to close the gap in the travel needs of travelers from West Africa and East Africa.

The flights will be taking place on Mondays, Thursdays, and Sundays and the flight will take under 5 hours. A return ticket for Economy class will be US$ 510 Economy and Business class at $1800.

Speaking shortly after the inaugural flight, Nelson Ocherger, Uganda’s High Commissioner to Nigeria, stated that the approval by the Nigerian government would open a landscape of business opportunities to both nations. He noted that Ugandans await when Nigerian carriers would commence services to the country.

According to him: “The importance of air transport underscores the promotion of trade and investment and it allows Africa to leverage on all African Union, AU, agenda. We thank the Nigerian government for the necessary approval to do this operation.” “Uganda through the Uganda Civil Aviation Academy has partnered with the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria to train Ugandan pilots, engineers, and other aviation professionals.”

Yusuf Tuggar, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador who Director of Airport Protocol represented in the Ministry, Ambassador Oludare Folowosele said Ugandan Airline’s operation was an opportunity to bridge West Africa and East Africa air transport hiccups, lamenting air connectivity as a major challenge in Africa wondering why Africans would travel to Europe first before connecting another African city while wasting over 12 hours on a trip that is normally three or four hours.

He said, “It is ridiculous to go to Europe before connecting two African neighboring countries. What we are doing today would lead to wealth creation, shortening travel time from one country to another rather than depend on Europe all the time for flight connections.”

Festus Keyamo, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, who was represented by Hassan Ejibunu, Director of Air Transport Management in the Ministry, stated that aviation remains the best way for Africa to connect her people and promote inter-Africa business in line with Africa’s 2063 Agenda, as championed by the continent’s leaders.

“Aviation has a huge market that should be explored by indigenous African Airlines, as no other Nations can develop the aviation sector for us, except us Africans. We need to do this in the interest of our over 1.37 billion people, which is 17.4 per cent of the world’s population. I wish to, therefore, challenge Nigeria’s local airlines to seize the opportunity to start operating regional and continental flights to make SAATM and YD achieve their aims, as envisioned by African leaders.”

Source: Business Day

Passengers travelling to New York have a reason to smile after the national airline Kenya Airways announced plans to increase flights between the two destinations.

Kenya Airways on Monday announced that it will be increasing its weekly flights from the current four to five from Sunday next week (October 29) and have daily flights from December 4.

“Celebrating five years milestones of 1,700 flights and 72,000 Kilometres to John F Kennedy (JFK) International Airport,” the statement read.

“Starting October 29, 2023, we offer you additional flights from four times to five times weekly from Nairobi to New York and daily flights starting December 4, 2023.”

Kenya Airways has been operating flights to London since its inception as a gateway to the United Kingdom for business travel, leisure travel, trade, and educational purposes.

A flight from JKIA to JFK lasts for about 15 hours eastbound and 14 hours westbound on a Boeing 787 Dreamliner.

The launch of the inaugural direct flights in 2018 saw Kenya become the first East African country and the eighth in Africa to operate direct flights to the US.

In Africa, only South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana, Cape Verde, Ethiopia, Senegal and Morocco were the only countries that were allowed to make direct flights to the US then.

Kenya was allowed to fly directly to the US following its approval for Category One status by the US Federal Aviation Administration in April 2017, and JKIA’s elevation to the status of a Last Point of Departure.

Category one rating means an airport complies with standards set out by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

It means that a country’s civil aviation authority has been assessed by FAA inspectors and has been found to license and oversee air carriers in accordance with ICAO aviation safety standards.

In September, KQ announced the introduction of two daily flights to London, effective October 29.

“Starting October 29, 2023, fly 2x daily to London from Nairobi with Kenya Airways for all your corporate, business, leisure, or academic travel needs. Book Now, ” KQ said.

The airline’s customers will have the option of choosing between a morning flight, KQ 100, and an evening flight, KQ 102, allowing for more travel options, convenience, and flexibility.

This comes barely a week after Kenya’s national carrier, was crowned Africa’s leading airline for the fifth time.

The award went to its economy class service and inflight magazine (msafiri) at the World Travel Awards 2023.

The airline was feted at the Africa and Indian Ocean World Travel Awards Gala held on October 15 in Dubai.

Allan Kilavuka, Kenya Airways group chief executive officer and MD said the award was a recognition of listening to their clients.

“It is about listening to the customers and understanding their needs. Our goal is to be the preferred Africa carrier and we are constantly innovating to improve our guest’s customer experience,” said Kilavuka.

KQ renovated the economy-class inflight service in 2023. This included a rollout of tray service in economy class to replace the existing box service and an extra hot meal starter and yoghurt for breakfast on specific mid to long-haul flights across the network.

Source: The-star

In order to deepen economic ties and air connectivity, Uganda Airline, on Thursday, launched direct flight from Entebbe International Airport to Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos.

Before now, air connectivity between the two countries took 10 hours but has been reduced to three and a half hours as Uganda airlines debuts in Nigeria.

Speaking at the Entebbe route launch press conference in Lagos, the chief executive officer, Uganda Airlines, Jennifer Bamuturaki, said the flight service will be three times a week and will cut travel time from 10 hours to three and half hours.

She stated that the launch of flight services to Lagos by Uganda’s national carrier would help to close the gap for travellers shuttling to the West and East African countries.

“In October 2022, I visited Nigeria and I mentioned that Uganda airlines is coming to Nigeria. I am here with profound pleasure that Uganda airlines is here exactly a year later, October 2023, as we made our maiden flight to Lagos today.

“This flight was exactly three and a half hours. We cut out close to 14 hours from Lagos to Entebbe so that means that if you are flying to Mumbai, Dubai, you don’t need to fly 10 hours just come to Entebbe in three and a half hours and be in Dubai in another four and half hours. If you are going to Mumbai, three and half hours to Entebbe, one hour in transit and another 6 hours into Mumbai so we have closed the gap between Eastern Africa countries and the West,” she said.

Source: ntm