Uganda Airlines will on Monday 11th launch its inaugural direct flights from Mombasa to Entebbe.
Speaking to journalists in Mombasa Thursday, Ugandan High Commissioner to Kenya Katureebe Tayebwa said the first flight will touch down at Moi international Airport in Mombasa on Monday 11th at 1pm.
Tayebwa noted that the introduction of the flights will give option to the East African airspace giving an addition to the already existing flights for customers to have variety of flight services to choose from.
“Having more flights will solidify the east African community as it was 40 years ago,” said Tayebwa.
He added that the direct flight is an investment for the regional infrastructure which will be an economic enabler between the two countries.
The four new 76 seater CRJ Canadian model planes will fly three days a week between the two cities at reasonable rates in the first three months.
The Uganda airlines first launched its national airline three months ago flying to six destinations in East Africa where it has plans to bring in additional Air buses that will fly for over four hours thus expanding coverage and distance.
The six destinations include Nairobi, Juba, Dar es Salaam, Bujumbura, Mogadishu and Kilimanjaro.
The High Commissioner observed that the recent launch of the northern corridor was to help people and businesses in the region on how to communicate through transport.
“The Uganda airlines is an infrastructure not just a money making entity. We value the principle of economic enablement for the region where a business person from Kenya can sleep at home after running their business in Entebbe,” Tayebwa said.
Mombasa being a tourist destination, the direct flights will promote domestic tourism where people can fly in from Uganda to enjoy the sandy beaches of Mombasa through the shortest affordable route.
The High Commissioner said they are in the process of challenging the establishment that bars Cruise ship tourists from traveling more than 250 miles from area of docking to be extended so Uganda and Zambia can benefit.
Besides comfort, Plane communications addresses emergencies faster including medical than taking the road or rail including transportation of Perishables.
Tayebwa said plans are also underway to utilize Lake Victoria to allow people learn more about the region.
He revealed that Kenya and Uganda tourism boards are working together including travel and corporate industry to boost the regions tourism returns.
By Joseph Kamolo
