With the Aviation Industry recovering from the adverse effects caused by the Pandemic that has led to low passenger traffic at Entebbe International Airport, Eagle Air that has been operating at Entebbe International Airport for the last 24 years has unveiled its interest to start cargo flight services beginning with Belgium as its Air cargo route in order to remain afloat.
Eagle Air’s interest to start cargo flight services was revealed during the 47th Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) board licensing committee meeting that was held on Friday and the Airline has earmarked Belgium as its international Air cargo route under its 2020-2030 cargo plan.
However, the plan to start cargo flight services has been temporarily put on halt since the European Union that is supposed to give Eagle Air the green light is also recovering from the effects caused by the pandemic.
The seven Airline operators that presented their applications to the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) Board Air services licensing committee for renewal included DHL Aviation (Kenya) Limited, Transafrik Uganda Limited, Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF), AIM Air, Grand Air Services Limited, Kampala Executive Aviation, and Eagle Air Limited.
Eng. Ronny Barongo the UCAA Director Safety, Security and Economic Regulation revealed;
It is a regulatory requirement that any air operator intending to commence commercial operations (domestic or international) has to apply to the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) for an operating license known as an Air services License (ASL) which is a prerequisite for engagement in air operations to all new applicants for provision of air services or those seeking renewal of licenses.
It is a normal and standard industry practice that the applications are received by Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) in advance, evaluated, and thereafter considered by the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) Board Air services licensing committee in a public forum. Every applicant at such a public hearing is expected to clarify on issues to do with their business plan, proposed air routes, and equipment to be used among others, Eng. Ronny Barongo noted.
He added
For transparency purposes, Air service License regulations require that a notice of all the applicants to be considered (new or renewal), is placed in the print media 30 days prior to the date of consideration of the applications by the Board Air Services Licensing Committee meeting. This provides the public an opportunity to provide any relevant information to the licensing committee. This is a global practice that is not unique to Uganda.
Following the acquisition of the license, the operators are then treated as Ugandan carriers in any of the following air services license categories including scheduled passenger and/ or cargo, non-scheduled passenger and/ or cargo, private, training, and aerial works.
On his part, Mr. Thomas James Kiggundu the Chairman Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) Board Air services licensing committee revealed that there are twenty-four Ugandan licensed air operators and added that licensed operators serving domestic and international routes are encouraged to enter into cooperative arrangements with Uganda airlines and other international air operators such as codeshare agreements in order to increase their traffic.
He added that airlines operate to and from Entebbe International Airport in accordance with the provisions of the forty-nine (49) Bilateral Air Service Agreements (BASAs) concluded between Uganda and the respective countries.
