Uganda Airlines will now commence its first commercial flight next month in August and not in July as earlier communicated.
The Minister of Works and Transport, Eng Monica Azuba said in a statement to parliament that rescheduling is due to the fact that the revived national carrier is yet to get an air operating certificate (AOC) from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
Government revived the Uganda National Airlines that was established in 1977, but ceased operations in 2001. This year in April, two Bombardier CRJ900 aircraft were purchased from Canada at Shs 280bn – with more aircraft expected into the country to make up the six-aeroplane fleet.
It was expected that the airlines would start operations in July, but now minister Azuba says that can’t be possible as the new expected date for the AOC is July 28.
“The targeted date for the issuance of the air operating certificate to the airline by CAA 28th July, 2019. This means that Uganda Airlines can fly after that date. Already the booking, the reservations, the ticketing and accounting systems of Uganda Airlines have been activated but in a test environment. The systems have been set up using the provisional IATA designator and IATA accounting codes. The issuance of the air operating certificate will therefore trigger the activation of the codes in a live environment.” said Azuba.
On top of the the AOC, the airline must secure foreign air operator permits and licenses from destination countries before it can fly. Some of the first planned destinations according to Azuba include Kenya, Tanzania and South Africa with Ethiopia, Rwanda and Sudan expected to be added later with the arrival of two more aircraft in September. Azuba said the airline is now at stage four out five in securing an AOC.
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