In a bid to modernize and make Entebbe International Airport competitive in the region, Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has hired Fraport, a reputable Germany Consulting Firm, to develop a marketing and commercial strategic plan for the Airport.
According to CAA Director Marketing, Tom Davis Wasswa who spoke to entebbenews during a media Tour of the various Entebbe Airport expansion projects on Friday disclosed that Fraport consulting firm was hired at a sum of USD 162,000 and has among others helped CAA exploit the possibilities of improving customer service through delighting passengers going through Entebbe Airport, possibilities of making the Airport a hub in the region and increasing non-aeronautical revenue which include advertising, duty free sales, car parking, rentals, leisure facilities and Airport tours.
“We (CAA) agreed to hire Fraport consulting firm because we want to make Entebbe International Airport competitive in the region by increasing on the non-aeronautical revenue to cushion Airlines from Airport costs such as landing, handling and lighting charges. I’m glad that Fraport has given us (CAA) ideas on how to revamp our National Airline and the opportunity to utilize direct flights from Entebbe to London because currently there is no Airline flying direct to London. Fraport has also given us the idea of utilizing the Entebbe – Boston (USA) route which is also commercially viable. Other areas that Fraport is looking at include redesigning the departure and arrival areas at Entebbe International Airport to make them attractive to the passengers and using Entebbe International Airport to promote Uganda’s tourism potential”, Tom Davis Wasswa explained.
He added;
We have done benchmarking at various Airports in the region including Nairobi, Ghana, Johannesburg and Fraport Airport in Germany which has done consultation work for a number of Airports across the World and the plans will be implemented gradually.
CAA Director Airports John Kagoro, disclosed that Civil Aviation Authority has partnered with Uganda Tourism Board (UTB) and Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU) to put in place facilities that attract tourists to other upcountry aerodromes (Airfields) in Kidepo, Kasese, Kisoro, Kabale, Hoima and Arua.
Meanwhile CAA Managing Director Dr. David Kakuba said that all the on-going expansion works at Entebbe International Airport are geared towards giving passengers a good experience with more room and comfort. Dr. Kakuba also assured the Media that Civil Aviation Authority will endeavor keep members of the Public informed of the developments of projects aimed at improving the capacity and efficiency of Entebbe International Airport.
