After 40 years ,inaugural flight set for next Saturday on October 7th ,2023
Travellers will have dinner in Entebbe and breakfast in India
New direct route to reduce travel time by four hours
By Zulfah Namatovu
In Kampala
The Minister of Works and Transport , Gen. Katumba Wamala has said that Uganda Airlines new route to Mumbai India will be the first Asian connectivity point that is poised to bring immense business opportunities in Uganda and also cement the bilateral relations between Uganda and India.
Gen .Katumba Wamala highlighted the economic opportunities that have already been triggered in various sectors by opening up this new Uganda Airlines route and these include textile, pharmaceutical, manufacturing, agriculture and tourism .
“ We are also optimistic in that the direct flight will stimulate more Indian tourists to visit Uganda, the Pearl of Africa. Uganda Tourism Board and the Airline need to work together to stimulate this demand,” the Minister emphasized .
Gen Katumba Wamala was speaking at the opening of the Uganda-India Business Forum at Serena Hotel in Kampala.
He said that the Ministry of Works and Transport under its Integrated Transport Infrastructure and Services (ITIS) program ,seeks to prioritize transport interconnectivity to promote inter and intra-regional trade and reduce poverty.
“This route is timely because it coincides with the launch of Lagos on 19th October which will be a feeder to the network,” he added.
Gen. Katumba promised that Uganda Airlines will announce more route openings before the end of the year, which will grow its network and, subsequentcreation of its regional hub. He further stated that Entebbe Airport under the Civil Aviation Authority , is also being expanded to handle the increased volume of passengers that will be arriving and connecting through Entebbe, which has emerged as a strategic hub for travelers to and from Africa.
“Our new Kabalega Airport, which is near completion, is a strategic point that will facilitate exploration, mining, agriculture and tourism.”
The CEO Uganda Airlines Ms. Jennifer Bamuturaki said that the airline’s new route to Mumbai was the gateway to India a country with enormous economic opportunities . This will be Uganda Airline’s 12th route and 2nd international flight after Dubai.
Ms. Bamuturaki said the new route was a very important one to the national carrier because the anticipated traffic that will accrue for the network and will business sense for the travelers by reducing travelling time from over nine hours to five and half ours.
“ This route also directly opens up one of the World’s largest economies to Uganda which positions opportunities for various sectors. We are optimistic about this route, especially for our cargo operations and tourism into the country. We are also cognizant that the route will support value addition across value chains for our raw materials,” she noted .
She thanked UNDP which has supported the Airline to bring all of you together in support of the Entebbe – Mumbai route.
The Airline has positioned its state-of-the-art equipment on this route, the A330-800 neo under flight code UR 431 to provide a superior and memorable onboard experience. It has also offered competitive fares for its connectivity across Africa.
Flight Schedules :
The schedule of the flight will be three times a week: Monday, Wednesday and Saturday. Therefore, it will be dinner in Entebbe and breakfast in Mumbai.
