Beginning in November this year, Uganda Airlines will launch its long-awaited direct flights between Entebbe International Airport and London’s Heathrow Airport, using its Airbus A330-800neo for the route.
A year’s delay
The new route announcement comes days after Uganda’s President Museveni made threats to take action against the national carrier for the long delay in making direct flights to the UK. This happened during a recent meeting with the UK Trade envoy for Uganda and Rwanda, Lord Popat, and the British High Commissioner to Uganda, Kate Airey.
President Museveni said he would soon enforce pushable actions on the Civil Aviation Authority and Uganda Airlines to get the paper sorted quickly, saying:
“What has helped Uganda to recover has been the army and private sector, in spite of the obstacles caused by public service. They have helped the economy recover. The airline people are well paid. Why can’t they finish the issue of direct flights? They are the enemy of the country.”
The fury stemmed from concerns within the UK trade envoy asking about when the flights to London would happen, with Lord Popat suggesting that the Ugandan government work on the issue of starting flights to promote investments and tourism quickly.
He was just as willing to help speed up the process, saying:
“If Uganda is willing, we are ready to send our aviation people here to help CAA so that we can have direct flights to the UK.”
Regulation problems
Quite shockingly, Uganda Airlines was granted rights and slots to commence flights to London last year, with a then-planned arrival to Heathrow at 06:45 am and departure at 09:00 am.
The granting of slots came after an analysis revealed that over 84,000 passengers flew on the Entebbe to London flight on a two-way point-to-point basis in 2019, making Entebbe the second-largest unserved market from Africa to London.
However, the flights to London never began. According to the airline’s acting Chief Executive Officer, Jenifer Bamuturaki, the UK aviation body required Uganda Airlines to apply for a foreign carrier permit.
The requirement is one of the changes caused by Brexit regulation. All non-UK air carriers wishing to undertake commercial services to, from, or within the UK must hold a Foreign Carrier Permit before that flight is launched – a process that usually takes up to six months.
Problem solved
It would undoubtedly seem that the regulatory problems have now been solved. Although, the timings are yet to be announced after further consideration of other flights feeding into the London route. Moreover, the Uganda-London way will operate thrice weekly on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.
With the establishment of London flights settled, Uganda Airlines is looking to expand its regional network, with plans for flight services to the Democratic Republic of Congo in the making.
And in terms of going much farther, the airline is also looking to further dominate the international market with many more long-haul routes, including the resumption of flights to Dubai back in October last year. By the end of 2023, the Ugandan national carrier is eyeing Guangzhou using the Airbus A330-800neo aircraft.
Source: Simple Flying
