Air Uganda makes inaugural flight to Mogadishu

[nuune]

 

The wheels of an inaugural Air Uganda flight touched down in Somalia today (July 8) at about 8 a.m. local time.

 

The maiden voyage from Kampala to Mogadishu this morning, makes Uganda’s premier airline the latest carrier to invest in Somalia’s economic recovery, with the three weekly flights it has announced.

 

African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) firefighters – stationed at the Aden Abdulle International Airport – welcomed the jet with the symbolic ‘water cannon salute’ they give to all airlines on their maiden voyage to Mogadishu.

 

Aden Abdulle International Airport, located in the seaside capital, is recording a sharp increase in travellers and air traffic, thanks to the relative calm that has returned to the city and other parts of the country, over the last two years.

 

Extremist group al Shabaab has been forced out of most urban areas in sustained operations by the Somali National Army (SNA) with the support of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM).

 

During Somalia’s conflict years, the only aircraft that braved its airspace were hired by daring businessmen to bring in khat – a plant grown in neighboring Kenya and Ethiopia that has a stimulating effect when chewed.

 

Somalia’s Minister of Information recently announced that the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) had removed the airport from the ‘Zone 5’ list of airports ‘deemed to pose a security risk to aircraft, crew and passengers’.

 

Air Uganda’s managers say they’re targeting Somali travellers, government officials, military personnel and a growing number of entrepreneurs from around the region who are keen on seeking opportunities in the country, after two decades of war.

 

The Deputy Ugandan Ambassador to Somalia, Nathan Mugisha, was onboard the flight.

 

“After sweating, after shedding blood and then followed by this, it’s an illustration that there is peace, and peace is going to be maintained, and this is going to reduce time for Somalis and the Ugandans who want to come here and this will help to cement our relationship further, and will promote communication between the people, business, goods and so life will be greatly improved,” he said.

 

In March last year, international carrier Turkish Airlines began twice-weekly flights between the Turkish capital Ankara and Mogadishu.

 

“This is the second international airline that comes to Mogadishu, the first is Turkish airline, the second African airline is Air Uganda, the others are local airlines. This is a very good day for Mogadishu, it’s very good day for the Mogadishu travellers,” said Mogadishu mayor Mohamed Nur shortly after receiving the landmark flight.

 

Several private airlines based in East Africa, including Kenya’s African Express and SAX, as well as Somali-owned private carriers like Jubba Airways and Daallo Airlines, all currently fly into Mogadishu.

 

Flight schedules and regular updates can be found on Aden Abdulle’s website – mogadishuairport.com – which now sports a banner promoting the 600 US dollar Air Uganda flights.

 

 

Air Uganda’s maiden flight lands at Aden Abdulle International Airport in Mogadishu, Somalia, on July 8. Air Uganda’s inaugural flight into Mogadishu’s international airport marks the second international airline to begin sending flights to Somalia. AU UN IST PHOTO / TOBIN JONES

The Mayor of Mogadishu, Mohamed Nur, speaks to journalists after Air Uganda's maiden flight into Aden Abdulle International Airport in Mogadishu, Somalia, on July 8.

 

The Mayor of Mogadishu, Mohamed Nur, speaks to journalists after Air Uganda’s maiden flight into Aden Abdulle International Airport in Mogadishu, Somalia, on July 8. Air Uganda’s inaugural flight into Mogadishu’s international airport marks the second international airline to begin sending flights to Somalia.

 

Uganda’s Deputy Ambassador to Somalia, Nathan Mugisha, stands in front of Air Uganda’s maiden flight to Mogadishu, Somalia, on July 8. Air Uganda’s inaugural flight into Mogadishu’s international airport marks the second international airline to begin sending flights to Somalia.

 

Uganda’s Deputy Ambassador to Somalia, Nathan Mugisha, goes over paperwork with an Air Ugandan official after the airline’s maiden flight to Mogadishu, Somalia, on July 8. Air Uganda’s inaugural flight into Mogadishu’s international airport marks the second international airline to begin sending flights to Somalia.

A member of the ground crew at Aden Abdulle Airport refuels Air Uganda’s maiden flight to Mogadishu, Somalia, on July 8. Air Uganda’s inaugural flight into Mogadishu’s international airport marks the second international airline to begin sending flights to Somalia. AU UN IST PHOTO / TOBIN JONES

 

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[The Zack]

Uganda is taking over Xamar...JK

 

This is awesome news, it has just increased our options. One doesn't have to stop by freaking Nairobi any more.

[Alpha Blondy]

are you sure this isn't another AMISOM deployment.

 

please confirm?

 

Alz

[Daqane]

Yes nuune uploaded this info and others on Mogadishu pictures thread.

 

what do you tink of this development with turkey increasing flights to 5 times a week, jubba's expansion to a direct Dubai Mogadishu flight and now air Uganda thrice weekly flights, as someone knowledgeable of the industry what do you think of these developments??

[nuune]

Daqane, seen your pictures, competition is the main element in this thriving industry, Mogadishu is experiencing huge traffic, as well as the whole country, even Turkish Airlines seats are booked in advance for the current 4 times weekly service, that is why they are now increasing to 5 times weekly, THY return tickets now cost more than $1,500, it started with only $550 dollars return, Air Uganda is trying to take over the Nairobi transit passengers who usually come from the West, Nairobi transit passengers often find difficult to travel with Jetlink, African Airways or Jubba as well as the hassle at Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta Airport, since the level of safety and comfort is almost zero for Jetlink or African AIrways, Air Uganda is deploying new aircraft that are only 3 years old.

 

Also, out of the question is when leaving Mogadishu to Nairobi where passengers stop by Wajir Airport for immigration check up, now that would be history too for those who visited Mogadishu but want to return to Europe or North America.

 

In all, this is a bad publicity for Kenya Airways which in recent years was struggling, they have lost their image to KLM who owns more than 80% of Kenya Airways, it is also bad for African AIrways, jetlink etc

 

Soon we will hear from Kenya Airways starting a new service to Mogadishu, it would be a welcome move.

 

Air Uganda is only in service since 2007, but starting with 3 times weekly service to Entebbe is an aggressive move, but one which will yield a lot of profit.

 

 

Return ticket to Uganda cost $600.

 

If Air Uganda can reduce this return ticket to around $400, it will attract those flying from Europe to switch to Entebbe Airport for $600 return, in total, from London to Mogadishu via Entebbe will cost less than $1,000, Turkish Airlines will struggle but will launch to reduce prices, this is the kind of competition that is needed.

 

 

Emirates and Qatar Airways are now in the development, I will keep an eye on this, there are talks going on, this will be really great and interesting, I can already see Daallo, Jubba and African Airways becoming history(they have already lost key destinations and reduced some schedule), and Europe to Mogadishu return ticket costing less than $600 will make many people visit Somalia.

[Daqane]

Thanks brother that was very informative.

 

P.S what do you think of SKA being replaced and the new turkish company favouri llc taking over operations of the airport as they build the new terminal?

[nuune]

SKA is still managing the airport sxb, if the news from the government is true(SKA denied that they will be replaced and nobody contacted them about this), then it would be a matter of few weeks when the Turkish will take over.

 

I am no favour of any foreign entity managing the airport, but we can at least rely on them since we don't have an Airport Ground Services which can manage Somalia's Airports as a whole.

 

SKA is a corrupt, the Turkish, we haven't heard any corruption from their side yet in their involvement with Somalia, so the news about them taking over is a welcome one.

[nuune]

Alpha Blondy;967428 wrote:

are you sure this isn't another AMISOM deployment.

 

please confirm?

 

Alz

They are actually withdrawing because they are not satisfied that they are not making any headlines, Kenya is stealing the show with almost daily headlines.

[Alpha Blondy]

aar baal tan eega. cajiib, ma istidhi?

 

marka, are you saying the ugandese came to your country because of a need to make headlines?

[nuune]

inaar, maantoo kale anigu ciyaar ma doonayo, ee saas ula soco, inaar, hadaad mar danbe wax ii soo qorto kurkaan kuu dheereyn ee saa ula soco, inaaar

[Mad_Mullah]

Good news, even though its a HAG city, as the capital it presents the whole country, including Somaliland.

[Faarax-Brawn]

The Pearl of Africa, is the brand they go by mooho?

 

Salan Nuna, Uncle

[Nin-Yaaban]

Seems like air travel is becoming a normal thing in the Horn of Africa and much of Africa. In the next 5-10yrs as the African middle class grows, and the infrastructure gets better, flying should be like driving.

[Faarax-Brawn]

Nin-Yaaban;967495 wrote:

Seems like air travel is becoming a normal thing in the Horn of Africa and much of Africa. In the next 5-10yrs as the African middle class grows, and the infrastructure gets better, flying should be like driving.

Lakini,they need to improve on safety bro.

[Nin-Yaaban]

Faarax-Brawn;967498 wrote:

Lakini,they need to improve on safety bro.

There is always risks with flying and there is always more that can be done to improve safety (and especially in Somalia). But having said that, i dont think there's been any fatal accident in recent memory involving Somalis.