Uganda has big plans for new national airline about to take off

Uganda’s fledgling national airline will be a candidate for an IPO and closer cooperation with other carriers if the launch goes as planned. Uganda Airlines, which last month signed deals for Airbus wide-body jets and Bombardier regional planes, is due to begin operating 19 routes in January, Transport minister Monica Azuba Ntege. Uganda is working to establish a new flag carrier after the last collapsed amid mounting debts in 2001. Ntege said the chief role for the airline, to be based at Entebbe airport outside Kampala, will be in boosting travel links and introducing competition to bring down fares. It will also have a cargo arm to serve areas of the economy such as flower exports and a growing oil sector. “Our people have been charged exorbitant prices for tickets because there was no competition,” the minister said. <br/>