Uganda Airlines will launch direct flights between Entebbe and Mumbai from October 7, with three weekly flights.
The non-stop flights will be offered on the Airbus A330-800 neo aircraft, which the flag carrier claims will be the first in India.
The service will offer a three-class configuration comprising business (20 seats), premium economy (28 seats) and economy (210 seats).
The return airfare in economy class for the inaugural flight is Rs 49,000 from Mumbai and will last about five and half hours. There are currently no direct flights between the two destinations.
An estimated 35,000 Indians or persons of Indian origin (PIO) are living in Uganda, as per the High Commission of India, Kampala. An estimated 80,000 people travelled to Uganda last year from India.
Adedayo Olawuyi, chief commercial officer, Uganda Airlines said, “Besides convenience, we hope this route will add energy to the existing business and commercial relations between India and Uganda that date back more than a century.”
The African airline aims to make Entebbe a hub for travel within the continent, especially as there are very few direct flights between the African countries and India. Delhi and Chennai are the other destinations the airline said it is keen to have on its map.
Kenya Airways and Ethiopian Airlines have direct flights to India while South Africa, despite its sizable Indian diaspora, does not have any direct flights to India.
Uganda Airlines’ fleet comprises six aircraft – two Airbus A330-800 and four Bombardier CRJ900. The airline aims to expand its fleet and connect London, Jeddah, Cape Town, Guangzhou, Riyadh to name a few. For this, it is said to be in talks for placing orders with Airbus and Boeing.