|
Business
|
|
Written by Moses Serugo
|
|
Wednesday, 25 November 2009 19:40 |
The resumption of Air Uganda’s morning flight offers the Entebbe-to-Nairobi-bound business traveler the best option for a groggy-free morning meeting. Air Uganda’s flight departs at 6.45a.m. and allows for a check-in of up to 30 minutes before your flight for passengers with hand luggage only.
The flight out of Entebbe makes it to Nairobi in under one hour, thanks to Air Uganda’s introduction of the newer Bombardier CRJ type aircraft. The 50-seater Bombardier CRJ200 was designed to provide superior performance and operating efficiencies. It has a track record of flying faster and farther while burning less fuel, a great advantage in these times of high aviation fuel prices, and having lower operating costs.
The two-year-old airline now hopes to produce good load factors out of the 35% point-to-point traffic on the Entebbe-Nairobi route by eating into its nearest rival’s market. Kenya Airways enjoys dominance on the lucrative route with four daily flights.
But with its 5.30a.m. flight that requires a wee-hour 4a.m. check-in, business travellers are more likely to vote with their sleep and opt for Air Uganda’s dawn check-in and its $140 return fare (less taxes). The return flight allows for a same-day evening departure from Nairobi at 6.45p.m., arriving in Entebbe an hour later.
Air Uganda also hopes to capitalise on passenger comfort with the introduction of the Bombardier CRJ200. The aircraft has been designed with cabin amenities and comfort features that are comparable to those of larger jet aircraft.
Its roomy wide cabin features two-plus-two leather upholstered seating gives passengers ample headroom, unobstructed under-seat stowage and a quiet cabin. This is coupled with Air Uganda’s signature cordial cabin crew and punctuality record.
According to Jennifer Bamuturaki Musiime, Air Uganda’s Commercial Director, the company is making quite a killing on the Juba route and will soon launch flights to Mombasa for the benefit of holiday makers and to Goma, one of Zaire’s east-side business towns.
“We plan on stimulating regional tourism by offering packages with our sister entity Serena Hotels for getaways to any of their resorts in Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania,” Ms. Musiime told a group of Ugandan journalists at the Nairobi Serena Hotel.
The Air Uganda/Serena Hotels partnership comes on the heels of Serena’s acquisition of Ranch on the Lake, now renamed Lake Victoria Serena Hotel. The 124-room facility will also offer an 18-hole golf course and a marina.
|
|
|
|
Subscribe to this comment's feed
Show/Hide comments
Show/Hide comment form