Uganda and Saudi Arabia have signed the Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) that will facilitate scheduled international air services for airlines from both countries.
The BASA was signed on November 10, 2023, in Riyadh, on the sidelines of the Saudi-Africa Summit.
According to Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA), the agreement aims to facilitate scheduled international air services for airlines from both countries, including Uganda Airlines, Saudia and Flynas.
Representatives from Uganda, led by officials from the Ministry of Works and Transport and UCAA were headed by Benon Kajuna, the Director of Transport at Ministry of Works and Transport, while Saudi Arabia was represented by officials from the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), led by Ali Mohammed Rajab, Executive Vice President of Air Transport and International Cooperation.
In June this year, Uganda Airlines transported Muslim pilgrims from Uganda to Jeddah in Saudi Arabia. This was historic for both countries because it was the first flight by the national carrier to Saudi Arabia in 40 years. Direct flights to Jeddah will make travel a bit easier since passengers will avoid transit routes as has been the case in the past.
While flagging off Muslim pilgrims to Mecca in June this year, Jennifer Bamuturaki, the Chief Executive Officer at Uganda Airlines, said that the national carrier plans to have scheduled flights to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
“We will be flying to Jeddah three times a week,” she said, adding: “We already have a sales organization set up in Saudi. We have a general sales agent that is representing us in Jeddah, so we are doing everything towards the launch of flights.”
Source: Business Focus
1 comment
This is a wonderful move by the Government of Uganda and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Congratulations to Uganda Airlines.