Uganda Airlines has added Harare and Lusaka, the capital of Zimbabwe and Zambia respectively, to its existing flight routes.
With the addition of these two new routes, the airline now serves 16 destinations and completes the initial route ramp-up ahead of further expansion beyond the African continent. The two routes will be serviced using the CRJ900 Bombardier aircraft operating four times a week on Sunday, Monday, Thursday and Saturday.
They are expected to eliminate lengthy layovers in neighbouring hubs and reduce travel time between Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe by more than six hours. This is also the shortest and least-cost route from Southern Africa to Uganda and other destinations within East, West and Central Africa.
While launching the routes on September 25 at Entebbe International Airport, Uganda Airlines CEO Jenifer Bamuturaki said these flights have been positioned to serve the needs of both persons who may simply want to terminate their journeys in Uganda and others who might want to travel further within Uganda Airlines’ network to Nairobi, Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar, Kilimanjaro, Bujumbura, Dubai, Mogadishu, Johannesburg, Mombasa, Mumbai, Lagos and Abuja, Juba or Kinshasa.
“We are happy to return to the capitals of Zambia and Zimbabwe, countries whose history and culture are closely linked to Uganda. These two destinations, which expand options for travel between East Africa, Southern Africa and beyond demonstrate our commitment to increase travel options for travellers by providing safe affordable and reliable air transport services to connect the continent,” said Bamuturaki.
The minister of finance, Matia Kasaija who was the chief guest at the inaugural flight, noted that trade between Uganda and Zambia is still below potential. The combined value of trade between the two countries was $58.5 million in 2021 with the balance in favour of Zambia whose exports to Uganda were valued at $47.8 million.
He, however, said that he is optimistic that the improved air connectivity between Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe will support a vibrant travel market that facilitates better business, trade and tourism linkages.
Meanwhile, the Uganda High Commissioner to Zambia, Fred Mwesigye, said this moment marks not just the expansion of air travel between the two countries but also a continuation of the long-standing cordial and productive relationship between Uganda and Zambia.