ENTEBBE — Uganda’ national carrier — the Uganda Airlines has Monday September 30 launched direct flights to Bujumbura, the capital city of Burundi.
The airline’s aircraft took off from Entebbe International Airport on Monday afternoon to Bujumbura— making Burundi one its new destinations.
Uganda Airlines will operate three direct flights per week from Entebbe International Airport to Melchior International Airport on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
Hon. Katumba Wamala, Minister of State for Works led the delegation accompanied by the Chairman Board Uganda Airlines, Senior government officials, Members of the business community among others to Bujumbura.
Also aboard the Uganda Airlines Inaugural flight to Bujumbura was the Ambassador Designate of Burundi to Uganda – Her Excellency Ambassador Ephiphanie Kabushemeye Ntamwana.
The airline’s commercial director Jenifer Bamuturaki said the flight to Bujumbura was made at a promotional cost of $255 and on October 11, it will fly to Kilimanjaro, Tanzania and to Mombasa in Kenya at a cost of $165 and $312 respectively.
These will be in addition to the initial routes of Nairobi, Mogadishu, Dar es Salaam and Juba.
Currently, the airline flies only two Bombardier CRJ 900 aircraft with a capacity of 76 passengers and is expecting to receive two more in early October.
The new craft will see the airline fly to Lusaka, Kigali, Zanzibar and Johannesburg by December.
Two more aircraft from the French manufacturer Airbus are expected late next year and will be used for long haul flights.
“We are proud and excited to add Bujumbura to our network and to offer both passenger and cargo services. This new route will support our growth and increase our footprint in Africa,” said minister Katumba Wamala.
The flight will play a vital role in the expansion of trade, tourism and investment between Uganda and Burundi,” he said before the inaugural flight.
