Airline passengers told to arrive four hours before flights

HEALTH   AIRPORT

ENTEBBE - The Civil Aviation Authority has asked passengers with flights going out of Entebbe International Airport to arrive four hours before their flights.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, passengers would arrive at the airport at least two hours before their flights.

Vianney Luggya, spokesperson for the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) told the media that there were processes that passengers have to go through as they get to board their planes.

"You will have to go through temperature checks, sanitise your hands, you have to maintain social distance. These processes can take some-time," Luggya said.

Flights at Entebbe Airport restarted on Thursday. There were long traffic queues on the road to the airport as passengers together with relatives and friends travelled to the airport.

Luggya said Turkish Airline was the first to arrive on Thursday when the airport re-opened, while Uganda Airlines is set to fly to Nairobi and Mogadishu.

On Wednesday, the first day after re-opening, 12 flights were scheduled. On Friday, 15 flights were expected. 

On Saturday, the airport expects to receive six flights. 16 flights are expected in and out of the airport on Sunday.

Waiswa Bageya, the permanent secretary ministry of works and transport said they had processed a special release of funds of sh4.1b to facilitate the re-opening of the airport.

Cornwell Muleya chief executive officer Uganda Airlines said the re-opening of the airport and resumption of flights would help Uganda's economy to recover.

"We are mindful that COVID-19 is still around, we are committed to keeping you safe both onboard and as we go with our partners at the various airports. From next February next year, we will be connecting Uganda to overseas destinations," Muleya said.

Peter Lokeris, state minister for works and transport said Uganda Airlines had survived the difficult time because it was built on a firm foundation. Lokeris presided over a ceremony to mark the re-opening of the airport.

Lokeris welcomed visitors to Uganda. He said the government was satisfied with the safety measures at the airport that is why it allowed the resumption of flights. Lokeris said Uganda was listed among the top countries with the best measures to fight COVID-19.

At the road toll before getting into the airport, passengers have to disembark to sanitise their hands and have their temperatures taken.

Inside the airport, the same process takes place. A tent for passengers has been erected to sit and wait outside the airport.