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Uganda Airlines Airbus A330, yesterday, 7th October made a touchdown at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport on a maiden direct flight from its Entebbe International Airport Homebase. This is the first time in more than 50 years that India and Uganda will be connected by a non-stop air service.
The route is Uganda Airlines’ second service outside the African continent and the 12th across its network and joins a rapidly expanding network that offers travellers convenient connections to South, West, Central and Eastern Africa.
“The direct service will last approximately five and a half hours, bringing unmatched convenience to people travelling between the two points for business, family or tourism,” the airline said in a media statement.
“This is a momentous occasion in Uganda-India relations because, for the first time in half a century, our two friendly nations are now connected by a direct air service. So, we are indeed happy that Uganda Airlines is re-establishing this air bridge, which will shorten the journey times between our friendly nations, strengthen bilateral trade and deepen cultural interaction between our people,” said Gen. Katumba Wamala, Uganda’s Minister for Works and Transport.
The inbound inaugural flight from Uganda departed depart Entebbe on October 7, at 13:35 pm local time, arriving in Mumbai the same day at 23:15 pm. The return UR 431 will depart Mumbai on Sunday at 1:10 am and arrive in Entebbe the same day at 5.50 a.m.
The timings will slightly change on Mondays and Wednesdays, with inbound UR430 departing Entebbe at 20:15pm local time and arriving in Mumbai every Tuesday and Thursday at 05:55 am. Meanwhile, the reciprocal UR 431 will depart Mumbai at 7:55am, arriving in Entebbe at 12:25 local time.
The schedule has been designed to fit neatly into our existing network to meet the needs of those passengers who might wish to continue their journeys beyond Uganda.
Uganda Airlines Chief Executive Jenifer Bamuturaki highlighted the convenience the new service brings for business and leisure travellers.
“We are excited to introduce this, the latest addition to our network, which affirms Uganda Airlines’s commitment to expanding travel options for our passengers. Besides convenience, we hope this route will add energy to the existing business and commercial relations between India and Uganda that date back more than a century,” she said.
Uganda Airlines Board Chair Priscilla Mirembe Serukka said the service to Mumbai was only an initial entry point into India, and other destinations were under consideration.
“We are happy that we have answered the call of the business community, which, since we started operations four years ago, has been asking us to introduce this service. People are asking for more and we are listening. We are open to exploring new opportunities in this market,” she said.
“Bookings are open and have been made convenient through the Uganda Airlines App, which allows you to make reservations, pay for your ticket, modify your itinerary and print your board pass. We invite you to download the App and can’t wait to welcome you aboard,” the airline said.
Uganda Airlines currently operates flights to Dubai, Johannesburg, Bujumbura, Nairobi, Mombasa, Zanzibar, Dar es Salaam, Kilimanjaro, Juba, Kinshasa and Mogadishu. Flights to Lagos, Nigeria, are scheduled to start shortly.