Tourism and Business to Increase Between Uganda and the Rest of the World Following Increased Flights and Launching of Daily International Flights to Entebbe Airport.
Of recent Entebbe International Airport has seen an increased flight arrivals in a week. With successfully holding one of the biggest conferences in the world CHOGM that was held in Uganda Kampala at the end of last year 2007 in November, Entebbe airport received number of increased arrivals in day that all were handled professionally and showcased an example a busy hub like other western airports that receive a number of flights daily in terms of air traffic.  Having gone through a major face lift, all of its  facilities available at the Entebbe airport, gave it a live functioning blood to become another hub in the region. With increased tourism business to Uganda, a stable southern Sudan and the improved security to Eastern Democratic of Congo all these have called for increased traffic to the region and the best and strategic place to land is Entebbe airport.
The major carriers that have seen an increased flight schedule include: South African Airways(SAA) now has introduced daily flights to Entebbe since last March. “Flights will depart from Entebbe at 07:15 hrs and arrive in Johannesburg at 10: 30 hrs allowing connecting passengers to meet their flights. While the return flights will depart from Johannesburg at 1400 hrs and arrive in Entebbe at 1910 hrs,†said a statement that East African Business Week has seen.
Emirates Airlines has daily flights to Entebbe connecting through Dubai to the rest of the world. This allows Asia and beyond to have stable flights to the region.
British Airways has 3 flights to Entebbe on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. This connects the rest of Europe and other major American carriers that bring tourists and visitors to Uganda. Brussels Airlines and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines have many flights to Entebbe in a week plus Egypt Air that has 2 flights on Wednesdays and Sundays.
Apart from these international airlines, there are other continental airlines that served this airport for so long. These include Kenya airways that has daily flights connecting through Nairobi to the rest of the world. Ethiopian Airlines the oldest continental carrier has daily flights connecting through Addis Ababa and the rest of the world.
Also the there are new continental airlines that have been born because of the increased traffic to Entebbe. Air Uganda that was launched 14th November 2007, now has daily flights to and from Nairobi, have flights from Entebbe to Juba and will soon introduce flights to Arusha- Kilimanjaro airport and Dar es Salaam. Air Tanzania has flights to Entebbe on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. The New entrant is Precision Air that has flights on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays to Kilimanjaro airport. Also Rwandair Express has daily flights to and from Entebbe to Kigali making it easier for tourists to connect and mostly those who wish to track gorillas in both countries.
There are other regional airlines that are being borne and tacking care of internal flights and charter flights within  the country and the region beyond. These include Eagle Air that covers most of the Uganda destinations to major towns Gulu, Moyo, Kigtgum, Kidepo park, Murchison falls park, Bwindi gorilla park, Queen Elizabeth national park and other corners of the country. It has the biggest number of charter flights to Juba in southern Sudan. It also has flights to eastern Congo to Bunyia on Mondays and Fridays. Another new regional airline recently  been born is  the Royal Daisy Airlines that has daily flights to Juba from Entebbe.
If you have not traveled to Uganda Entebbe of recent, this is the chance to do it. Kampala after hosting CHOGM it was left with “CHOGM Hotels†these new hotels in Kampala and Entebbe provide best accommodation facilities from Luxury to ones pocket budget standards. Infrastructure has improved and an increased tourist numbers will be realized this year and the near future.
By Fred Bukenya
Manger Travel Hemispheres Ltd
