Uganda Airlines Direct Flights to India And Nigeria to Start in October
The month of October will always be memorable for Uganda Airlines as it prepares to launch direct flights to India and Nigeria. On 7th October 2023 (two days before the country’s Independence Day Celebration), an outbound UR 430 Flight will embark on a direct service between the Pearl of Africa (Uganda) and incredible India. This flight is scheduled to leave Entebbe at 2025 hours (local time) every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday, arriving in Mumbai at 0605 Hours (local time) the next day. This officially became the second International direct flight and was launched by the National Carrier officials on the 28th of September 2023.
Uganda Airlines launches direct flights to Nigeria
On 19th October 2023, the inaugural direct flight service from Entebbe to Lagos, Nigeria will start and will be operated every Sunday, Monday, and Thursday. Speaking at the launch sometime in August, Ms. Jennifer Bamuturaki- the Uganda Airlines Chief Executive Director pointed out that this direct flight service is aimed at enhancing efficiency and expediting the transit of commodities as well as the mobility of travelers (especially Businessmen and students) between these two wonderful and popular African destinations.
According to the Airlines’ Director, so far the Foreign Operators Permits (FOPs) have been successfully secured from regulators in Nigeria and India. Additionally, technical teams from these countries (especially Nigeria) have visited Uganda recently to undertake final assessments of the Airport as well as Uganda Airlines’ preparedness to launch their first-ever direct service. The FOP for Nigeria not only provides rights to fly to Lagos but also Abuja (the Capital), hence allowing Nigeria to enjoy the right to Entebbe when their National Carrier (Air Nigeria) which is in the process of being relaunched finally takes to the air.
Also, Uganda’s National Carrier is working hand in hand with the Civil Aviation Authority to make certain that there is compliance with International Airlines’ safety standards. In so doing, the renewal of Uganda Airlines’ Aircraft Operator Certificate is currently underway and this is expected to be completed in a few weeks before the official start of the Entebbe-Lagos direct flight. The National Carrier and Civil Aviation Authority has undergone the mandatory International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Universal safety oversight program Audit to solidify the commitment to operational excellence.
The direct flight service between Entebbe, Uganda, and Lagos, Nigeria was scheduled to begin in July 2023 but was delayed due to the sluggish regulatory processes. The good news is that these obstacles have now been sorted and everything is now in place to ensure the flights are finally started, come 19th October
2023. Speaking during the launch in August, Ms. Bamuturaki pointed out that passengers and cargo between Entebbe and Lagos will now take only four hours instead of the nine hours that would happen when flights are delayed in other Airports, thus starting the direct service will reduce travel time. Interestingly, the direct service between Entebbe and Lagos is one of its kind because there is currently no Airline that operates a direct route between these two amazing African destinations, yet there are over 40,000 passengers on this route every year.