Qatar Airways to fly to Entebbe route
QATAR Airways, a Doha-based airline, has announced plans to join Uganda’s aviation industry. This opens up stiff completion in the market.
By Ibrahim Kasita
QATAR Airways, a Doha-based airline, has announced plans to join Uganda’s aviation industry. This opens up stiff completion in the market.
The firm, in a statement issued recently, said it would start daily non-stop scheduled flights to Entebbe on November 2, marking the carrier’s first new route to the African continent since 2007.
Chief executive officer Akbar Al Baker said Uganda is fast emerging as a regional trading centre with links to Europe and the Far East, but has limited international air services.
He said they would fill this gap with their huge international network of routes via its Doha base.
Ignie Igundura, the Civil Aviation Authority public affairs manager, confirmed the airway’s entry plans.
“Qatar Airways is a five-star airline and has proposed seven flights a week. This is not common for most airlines which prefer starting small and grow later,†he said.
“It is a mark of confidence in the industry as well as the country.â€
Qatar Airways comes at a time when there has been a growing number of airlines using Entebbe.
They include Emirates, Delta, Lufthansa, KLM, SN Brussels, Continental, Kenya Airways, EgyptAir, Fly540, Turkish Airlines, Ethiopian Airlines, Precision Air, South African Airways and Rwandair Ezpress.
The aviation market has been the preserve of a few airlines which have kept air fares high, but the scene has changed in the past five years giving travellers more choices.
“We expect a reduction in fares. As a result, we shall see more clients coming in since they have options because of the competition,†Wilberforce Wagula, a sales executive of Pearl Tours and Travel Agency, said.
Qatar Airways also plans further expansion to Azerbaijan and Georgia, Akbar said.
He said the new routes further demonstrated the airline’s ambitious strategy to continue opening up new routes to popular and under served markets.
QATAR Airways, a Doha-based airline, has announced plans to join Uganda’s aviation industry. This opens up stiff completion in the market.
The firm, in a statement issued recently, said it would start daily non-stop scheduled flights to Entebbe on November 2, marking the carrier’s first new route to the African continent since 2007.
Chief executive officer Akbar Al Baker said Uganda is fast emerging as a regional trading centre with links to Europe and the Far East, but has limited international air services.
He said they would fill this gap with their huge international network of routes via its Doha base.
Ignie Igundura, the Civil Aviation Authority public affairs manager, confirmed the airway’s entry plans.
“Qatar Airways is a five-star airline and has proposed seven flights a week. This is not common for most airlines which prefer starting small and grow later,†he said.
“It is a mark of confidence in the industry as well as the country.â€
Qatar Airways comes at a time when there has been a growing number of airlines using Entebbe.
They include Emirates, Delta, Lufthansa, KLM, SN Brussels, Continental, Kenya Airways, EgyptAir, Fly540, Turkish Airlines, Ethiopian Airlines, Precision Air, South African Airways and Rwandair Ezpress.
The aviation market has been the preserve of a few airlines which have kept air fares high, but the scene has changed in the past five years giving travellers more choices.
“We expect a reduction in fares. As a result, we shall see more clients coming in since they have options because of the competition,†Wilberforce Wagula, a sales executive of Pearl Tours and Travel Agency, said.
Qatar Airways also plans further expansion to Azerbaijan and Georgia, Akbar said.
He said the new routes further demonstrated the airline’s ambitious strategy to continue opening up new routes to popular and under served markets.