Air Uganda tests flights
Joseph Olanyo
KAMPALA
AIR Uganda, the long anticipated airline, is testing its flights in preparation for the launch of commercial flights this month.
The airline took to the skies yesterday at about 1:00 pm on a test flight from Entebbe International Airport to Jommo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), Nairobi.
Air Uganda’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr Pietro Niedda said yesterday that they would run test flights for about one week in preparation for the official launch.
“Today is a test flight, not a commercial flight. We are flying to Nairobi to test our networks. By Friday or Saturday, we should be able to give you more details,” Mr Niedda said.
He said the airline expects to launch its commercial flights by November 15 ahead of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (Chogm).
The coming of Air Uganda is expected to relieve travellers who have been relying on foreign airlines for their transportation.
Addressing the press in Kampala recently, Mr Niedda said Air Uganda would initially operate a daily service to Nairobi, with two flights a day from Monday to Friday and a single flight on Saturday and Sunday.
He said Dar –es- Salaam would be served by five weekly flights, with three going through Kilimanjaro Airport while Juba will be served three times a week.
The new airline also received timely endorsement from President Kaguta Museveni recently when he announced that the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development (AKfed) would launch an airline in Uganda.
Ismailimail 