CHINA GRANTS FLIGHTS FROM UGANDA AIRLINES.
“Ni Hao #Guangzhou! A toast to yet another great milestone! Uganda Airlines has been granted landing rights to China! Cheers to a new world of greater connectivity,” the tweet stated.
Uganda lets toast for another milestone achieved for china granting us a landing right in China. Cheers to Ugandans and the ministry of works and transport for the work done. The flight targets mainly students, diplomats, business people and permanent residents in China from Uganda whereas in Africa the airline will pick in ten destinations.
As Uganda Airlines prepares for the commencement of long-haul flights to the UK, Saudi Arabia and India, it has secured departure and landing slots at the Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport in China.
“The airline will operate one flight per week to Guangzhou however the airline is yet to get a permit to fly because it has not among others yet submitted its route plan to China’s Civil Aviation Authority.” the airline’s spokesperson Shakira Rahim told URN.
Rahim continuously says that they are working on those details and after presenting them to the China Civil Aviation Authority-CAA, they shall let you know.
Currently, Uganda airlines was operating only one international route which is Dubai however it is expected to fly to London, Mumbai, Guangzhou and Riyadh.
“Uganda Airlines will start operations in London and Guangzhou before the end of the 2022/2023 financial year.” Matia Kasaija the finance minister announced to the public.
Although Uganda Airlines is allowed a landing slot at the London Heathrow International Airport, it has not yet got a permit to operate flights to London. The Minister of Works and Transport General Katumba Wamala added.
“A team of officials from the airline, Uganda Civil Aviation Authority-UCAA, and the Ministry of Works among others are working with support from the British High Commissioner to Uganda to engage the UK CAA to secure a permit to fly to London,” Katumba said.
“The airline suffered a setback in meeting requirements after the UK exited the European Union bloc in January 2020.” the Acting CEO of Uganda Airlines Jenifer Musiime Bamuturaki added.
However Airlines operating flights to the UK and other EU countries would apply for certificates from the European Aviation Safety Agency-EASA for those that are exiting, the new ones would apply for a Country Operator’s Permit from the UK which takes a long process compared to EU timelines.
The chairperson of the select team for fast-tracking the acquisition of the permit to London is Olive Birungi Lumonya the UCAA Deputy Director-General.
“The airline was given a deadline of June 30, 2022, to secure the permit.” Sources within the Ministry of Works and Transport said.
About Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport.
Guangzhou Baiyun is located in the Chinese province of Guangdong as one of the biggest airports in china. Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport was the world’s busiest airport by passenger traffic having handled 43.8 million passengers in 2020 that is according to aviation figures due to the impact of pandemics on the aviation industry worldwide. However pre- covid, the airport was the third Chinese busy area with 65.8 million passengers handled as the world’s 11th busiest airport by passenger traffic.
About China.
A significant partner country with Uganda is China for the last twenty-five years. Uganda’s exports to China have increased to an annual rate of 25% to reach $405m in 2020. The granting of Uganda Airlines to china will not only benefit the students but also traders and diplomats. However, the national carrier is limited to one flight per week to any point in China except for Beijing and Shanghai, for reasons that were not revealed.
About Uganda.
Direct flights will benefit the business community given the national carrier which will handle both passengers and cargo.
Ms Rahim said in a telephone interview that the China route will also boost our cargo operations that started in September 2021. The business case for China is progressive; there have been a lot of trade and business transactions between the two countries. The airline targets local business people/traders, government officials, students, tourists and investors.
