MD-87s to be phased out by Air Uganda

Uganda Air Cargo asks for bailout, $5mn for B737 freighter

Uganda Air Cargo (UCC, Entebbe/Kampala) has asked the country's parliament to back a UGX8 billion Ugandan shilling (USD2.17 million) bailout to cover losses accumulated in 2014-16 when its Air Operator's Certificate (AOC) was revoked, the Daily Monitor newspaper has reported. It also appealed for funds to acquire a B737 Classic freighter.

The Ugandan Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) revoked the AOCs of all locally-based airlines in June 2014, refusing to approve the state-owned carrier, along with Air Uganda and Transafrik Uganda, under the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO)-backed safety audit.

The carrier resumed operations in 2016, currently in the form of scheduled and charter cargo and passenger services from its base at Entebbe/Kampala to destinations in Eastern and Central Africa.

John Otekat, chairman of the board, told the Ugandan parliament's defence and internal affairs committee on November 12 that the airline suffered losses while out of action, and that both of its Lockheed Hercules C-130 aircraft remained grounded due to cracks in their centre wing box.

The carrier has appealed...

Ugandan gov't orders CRJs, A330s for new national carrier

The Government of Uganda has pushed ahead with its plans to establish a new national carrier.

According to The Monitor newspaper, Minister for Works and Transport, Monica Azuba-Ntege, told a media gathering in Kampala this week that government has made an initial cash deposit of approximately UGX4.43 billion Ugandan shillings (USD1.2 million) for the purchase of six aircraft.

Of the funds, Azuba-Ntege said UGX1.5 billion (USD403,133) had been put down for four CRJ900s from Bombardier Aerospace (BBA, Montréal Trudeau) while the remainder had been paid to Airbus (AIB, Toulouse Blagnac) for two A330-200s. Of the sextet of aircraft, the Bombardiers are expected to deliver first.

Insofar as managerial infrastructure is concerned, the minister said that the Uganda National Airline Company has already been registered, an interim board and management appointed, and a business plan also approved by Cabinet. The carrier is expected to start flights in November this year.

Azuba said Uganda Airlines will also operate ancillary services such as groundhandling and catering among other tasks.

"The plan...

Uganda courts Qatar over stalled national carrier project

The Ugandan government has approached Qatar for assistance in raising the funding needed to help in its relaunch of Uganda Airlines (1976) (Entebbe/Kampala).

The Monitor newspaper reports a delegation of twenty-five businessmen and government officials led by Minister for Privatisation and Investment, Evelyn Anite, held closed-door talks with Sheikh Faisal in Doha last week. Among the topics discussed was the Qataris' assistance in helping establish a new national carrier. Qatar Airways (QR, Doha Hamad International) reportedly expressed an interest in the project.

"We are still in talks, there is nothing concrete at the moment but as government, we are optimistic that Qatar will soon join us in reviving the Uganda Airlines," Anite said.

Official sources told the paper Yoweri Museveni's government was forced to seek the Qataris' assistance after failing to raise initial funding for the project.

A government report last year claimed up to UGX1.1 trillion shillings (USD331 million) would be sourced from various financial institutions, one of which could be the Eastern and Southern African Trade and Development Bank,...

AKFED seeks to exit Air Burkina