ENTEBBE —Uganda Airlines maiden flight to Nairobi, Kenya has faced an hour delay over long speeches by government officials.
The new Bombardier CRJ 900 was scheduled to take off from Entebbe Airport at 10:10 am for an inaugural flight to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Kenya with technical officers, government officials, and media to Nairobi.
However, the Bombardier is still the Entebbe International Airport with a new communication indicating that it will take off at 11:10am instead of 10:10 as earlier communicated.
Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda has flagged off a team of government officials as Uganda Airlines makes maiden flight to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Kenya.
The flight was scheduled for 10.00am, but officials said it will take off as soon as the ceremonies are done.
“This morning we will officially launch Uganda National Airlines Commercial flights. The launch ceremony at Entebbe International Airport will be followed by an inaugural flight to Nairobi. The first commercial flight will be tomorrow Wednesday 28th Aug 2019,” the transport Ministry has said.
Dr. Rugunda said the two of the four Bombardier aircraft were successfully delivered and approved to fly and that the other two will be delivered next month as scheduled.
The airbuses will be delivered later in 2020.
“Today, we stand here as witnesses to this historic moment were our national airline takes to the skies. I am glad some of us have had the honour to be associated with this great day. The country will always remember it,” he said.
Uganda plans a critical role in the geopolitical and economic stability of East Africa as a region. As a nation, he added: “we are strategically placed and with our airline, our neighbours will easily access our market and connect to their destinations.”
Uganda Airlines will give travelers on the busy Nairobi route options, and will also have the only direct flight to Mogadishu, in Somalia.
As revived national carrier Uganda Airlines prepares to take to the skies officially on Tuesday, for the first time in nearly 18 years, its most booked route out of its four initial destinations is Mogadishu.
Mogadishu is currently followed by Nairobi, whose bookings are fast coming in and are expected to peak as the flight date draws closer.
The national carrier will start with flights to Nairobi, Dar-es Salaam, Juba and Mogadishu.
The first flight is expected to leave Entebbe at 6.00am and land at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Nairobi at 7.15am.
The Mogadishu flight will leave Entebbe at 5.37pm and land at Aden Adde International Airport at 8:00pm.
