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Uganda’s aviation industry is showing signs of continued growth, with 10 new companies applying to operate air services even as the sector grapples with the fallout from Ebola-related travel restrictions that have disrupted international flights.
At its 53rd Air Services Licensing Committee meeting in Kampala, the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) considered 15 applications for air service licences, 10 from new entrants and five renewals.
The development, officials say, reflects growing investor confidence in the country’s aviation market and a belief that demand for air travel and cargo services will continue to rise. The licensing process is more than an administrative exercise.
Before airlines can operate commercially, they must obtain approval from the regulator to demonstrate they have the financial capacity, technical expertise and operational standards required to offer safe and reliable services.
The public hearing also allows stakeholders to scrutinise applications before licences are granted.
“This licensing exercise remains a statutory requirement that ensures transparency, public participation, and accountability in the approval of air service operations,” Deputy Director General Olive Lumonya said during the meeting.
The applications cover a wide range of services, including scheduled passenger flights, charter operations, cargo transport, flight training and private aviation.
Among the companies seeking approval are Cubic Air SMC Limited, Misk Air Limited, Premier Airlines Limited, Ubuntu Air Limited and Asante Aviation Limited, while operators such as Eagle Air, AIM Air and Transafrik Uganda are seeking licence renewals.
The surge in interest comes at a difficult moment for the aviation sector. According to Lumonya, concerns over Ebola have prompted several international airlines to suspend or reduce services to Uganda, affecting passenger numbers and airport revenue.
She cited KLM, Fly Dubai and Saudi Air among carriers that had cancelled flights, while Emirates introduced travel restrictions requiring passengers not to have stayed in Uganda for 21 days before travelling.
“We are seeing, or we are facing, a situation where several aircraft have cancelled their flights,” she said, adding that Emirates had reduced its schedule from five flights a week to three and was now carrying mostly transit passengers. For Entebbe International Airport, fewer flights mean fewer passengers and lower income.
“When you look at the airport, it survives on traffic, the passengers coming in and going out. So, when we have aircraft that are no longer coming in… it is already affecting our financial situation at the airport,” Lumonya said.
Even so, CAA remains optimistic that the situation will improve. Government and health officials are engaging airlines to reassure them about measures being taken to manage the outbreak and restore confidence in Uganda as a travel destination.
“We believe that situation will be improved; it will change. I think there is a lot of effort by the government that is being done,” Lumonya said.
She added that officials planned to meet airline country directors together with the Minister of Health to provide updates on the response to Ebola. The broader picture suggests Uganda’s aviation ambitions remain intact.
Related
, https://observer.ug/news/ten-new-airlines-eye-ugandas-skies/
