A total of 58 passengers were on the six-and-a-half-hour flight. Wakhweya Bwayo Robert as the commanding captain for its first flight from Entebbe to India, with Captain Jeevan Joy and First Officer Brian Ochen assisting.
The Flagship carrier of Pearl of Africa, Uganda Airlines (UR), has completed its first flight between Entebbe (EBB) and Mumbai (BOM). The airline has officially commenced direct flights from Entebbe to Mumbai after its aircraft successfully landed in Mumbai (BOM) CSMIA Terminal 2, on Saturday, 7th October marking its second international route after Dubai; it is the 12th destination that the carrier serves.
The airline will operate this new route three times a week. The African airline deployed its flagship and brand new Airbus A330 to serve this route.
The flight UR430 took off from Entebbe (EBB) at around 10:39 AM UTC. After being airborne for almost six hours and 30 minutes, the flight landed safely at Mumbai International Airport (BOM) at around 5:09 PM UTC.
The flight is operated by Airbus A330, registered as 5X-NIL. Further, it is a two years and nine months old aircraft. Rolls Royce (RR) engines power it.
Works and Transport Minister of Uganda Gen. Edward Katumba Wamala said that the route will also serve as a trade opener for both India and Uganda and will boost the bilateral trade relations between the countries as Uganda Airlines makes it’s inaugural direct flight to Mumbai, India achieving a new milestone.
Additionally, the direct flight will facilitate closer connections between Ugandan and Indian families, fostering appreciation for cultural differences and events.
Uganda Airlines CEO Jenifer Bamuturaki said the national carrier will fly the Mumbai route three times every week.
This route will fly three times per week between the two cities, providing direct service on an Airbus A330-800 Neo aircraft. The service will have three classes: Business (20 seats), Premium Economy (28 seats), and Economy (210 seats). It will be the first time in more than 50 years that India and Uganda will be connected by nonstop aviation service.
The route expands Uganda Airlines’ operation outside of Africa and joins a fast-developing network that connects travellers to South, West, Central, and Eastern Africa. The direct service will run for around 5 1/2 hours on each trip, providing unparalleled ease for individuals travelling between the two points for business, family, or tourism.
“We are excited to introduce this, the latest addition to our network, which affirms that Uganda Airlines expands travel options for our passengers. 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,” said Adedayo Olawuyi, Chief Commercial Officer.
The Consul of India to Uganda, Madhusudan Agrawal, welcomed the move, saying, “Since 2017, I have relentlessly pursued the dream of a direct flight from Mumbai to Entebbe, believing it to be the catalyst for enhanced trade, commerce, and tourism between our two nations. I am elated to witness the realisation of my vision.”
The timetable has been planned to fit neatly into the current network in order to fulfil the needs of travellers who may choose to continue their journeys outside of Uganda.
Bookings are now open, and the Uganda Airlines App allows travellers to make bookings, pay for tickets, change itineraries, and print boarding passes.
The app is available on Google Play as well as the Apple iStore.
Uganda Airlines currently flies to Dubai, Johannesburg, Bujumbura, Nairobi, Mombasa, Zanzibar, Dar es Salaam, Kilimanjaro, Juba, Kinshasa, and Mogadishu, among other destinations. Flights to Lagos, Nigeria, are set to begin soon.
The maiden Uganda Airlines flight UR 430 departed Entebbe today on Saturday, October 7, while the return flight UR 431 will depart Mumbai on Sunday, October 8.
