By Raymond Baguma

EAST African Airlines (EAA) has re-applied for a licence from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to resume operations after a three-year lull.

Paul Kaiggwa, the EAA director of finance and administration, presented the licence application during a public evaluation meeting on Thursday, conducted by CAA at Imperial Royale Hotel IN Kampala.

“In the next three months, we hope to start flight operations. We should have begun as early as last October, but because of the Commonwealth meeting, the approval could not be made,” said Kaiggwa.

The airline begun operations in January 2000 but suspended flights in February 2005 because of unsustainable, high operation costs and indebtedness, Kaiggwa said.

“In 2006, we had to do restructuring and service debts,” said Kaiggwa, adding: “We have gone through difficulties and are ready to continue. We are confident we will make it.”

Another new airline company, Sky Jet Aviation, submitted an application for an air licence to operate passenger and cargo flights between Entebbe, Juba, Khartoum and Cairo. A new operator, Fly 540.Com, also applied for a licence to operate low-cost domestic, regional and international passenger and cargo flights.

EAA intends to resume passenger, cargo and chartered business flights in East, Central and South Africa, Europe and China. It is scheduled to launch cargo and passenger flights between Entebbe and the DR Congo’s Kinshasa and Kisangani with a Boeing 737-200 aircraft.

Kaiggwa said as soon as the airline’s operations are approved, it will seek approval from the Saudi Arabian CAA to operate Hijja flights for Ugandan pilgrims to Mecca. Operators seeking renewal of operating licences included Tilda Ltd, Everret Aviation and Kampala Aero Club and Flight Training Centre.

The CAA board, chaired by Zephanaiah Baliddawa, also received licence applications for new operators including Martinair Holland, Kilwa Air and Ndege Juu.