By Samuel Sanya
Competition in Uganda’s aviation industry has extended beyond affordable fares to include inflight comfort and entertainment.
Maria Mutagamba, the tourism minister, said airlines should be innovative to capture larger market share in the wake of the global financial recession.
She made the remarks at a function launching the Brussels Airlines business and economy cabin that features a seat design that enables seats to harden or soften and has more leg space.
“Globally, the markets in just about every industry are showing signs of a downturn. And in today’s highly competitive airlines industry, we in Uganda are proud that they (Brussels Airlines) have stood the test of time,” she said.
“It has risen to the challenges that other airlines have thrown at them and it continually strives to innovate, to reach out to the people that it serves.”
Activity at Entebbe International Airport picked up in the year 2011 with the arrival of major global players like Turkish, Delta and Qatar airlines.
Mutagamba urged Brussels Airlines to add Ugandan content to its on flight entertainment menu to promote the country as a tourist destination.
Benjamin Puissant, the Brussels Airlines Uganda and South Sudan country manager, revealed that the makeover of the seven Brussels Airlines Airbus A330s cost 30m euros (sh106b).
