The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has issued an air service license to Kampala Aeroclub to operate domestic scheduled flights in Uganda in a move that is expected to boost tourism.
The Kajjansi-based company was previously offering chattered flights across the country and aviation training but will now increase its services to domestic scheduled flights using 13 passenger Cessna caravan aircrafts.
Russell Barnes, the director of Kampala Aeroclub, told URN that they opted to begin scheduled flights due to increasing demands from mainly tour operators who coordinate tourism services. He said they would mainly fly to the South Western areas of Mweya in Kasese, Kihihi and Mbarara, where many tourists frequent to watch gorillas, chimpanzee and other wildlife in Queen Elizabeth, Bwindi forest and Lake Mburo National parks.
Barnes explained that the company would also initiate similar scheduled domestic flights to other areas such as Kidepo national park in Karamoja by next year. He however said they were yet to finalize on the rates for the flights before undertaking the schedules in December but added that the fare would not exceed 300 dollars for a one-way ticket to western Uganda and about 100 dollars for locations between the tourist destinations in the area so as to make it affordable.
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Vianey Luja, the assistant public affairs manager at CAA, confirmed the issuance of a domestic scheduled flight license to Kampala Aeroclub. He says there are a total of 21 airlines licensed to offer similar services in the country.
According to the CAA, domestic scheduled flights are mainly offered by Eagle Air that flies to Arua, Moyo, Juba, Yei, Gulu, Kitgum and United Airlines that flies to Arua, Moyo, Adjumani and Yei.
Air transport within Uganda has largely remained limited perhaps due to high costs and the absence of regular scheduled flights between the various destinations. Statistics availed on the CAA website indicate that domestic air traffic was highest in 2003 with a growth of 33 percent but declined to negative 15 percent in 2006. The report, however, does not have current figures.
Soroti Municipality MP Mike Mukula, a pilot and former flight instructor, says that the aviation industry is the fastest growing sector after tourism with a lot of demand. Mukula says there is need for more aviation training institutions and airlines to meet the growing demand.
