Uganda Airlines shifts attention to new routes as second A330 arrives

February 2, 2021 in Business, Companies, Transport, Travel & Tourism by Editor

Uganda Airlines has capped the second phase of its fleet development plan, with the arrival of the second A330-800. The aircraft registration 5X-CRN , Mt. Rwenzori, was handed over to Bageya Waiswa, the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Works on January 27.

Flying as UR406, the aircraft departed Toulouse this morning, carrying a cargo of medical equipment that was donated to Uganda by the Airbus Foundation. It arrived to a reception in Entebbe to a reception by Prime Minister Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda after a flight lasting 7hours and fifty minutes.

The delivery brings to six, the number of aircraft in Uganda Airline’s fleet. It marks the completion of fleet development for now, with the airline now focusing on ramping up capacity utilisation. Until now, the airline has been operating a regional route network with services to Somalia, South Sudan, the DRC, Burundi, Tanzania and Kenya. Services to South Africa and additional points in the DRC will launch over the coming two months.

Alongside its sister ship Elgon that was delivered on December 22, the two aircraft will be used to develop the long-haul route network. Initial destinations earmarked for the pair include Dubai which launches later this month and London, Mumbai and Guangzhou.

London was supposed to have launched last month but the resurgence of the Coronavirus has slowed down the plans. Equally affected is Mumbai which was supposed to launch mid-year but is now subject to how soon India relaxes the travel restrictions it introduced to curb the spread of Covid-19. Guangzhou has been pushed back to the last quarter of 2021.