Premier Airlines has started operations in Uganda. This happened on Thursday, 5th December, with the round flight from Juba – Entebbe and Entebbe – Juba.
The airline will operate three weekly direct flights between Entebbe, Uganda, and Juba, the capital and largest city of South Sudan. Emmanuel Barungi, the General Manager of Entebbe International Airport, welcomed the inaugural flight at Entebbe, calling it a testament to the strong bilateral relations between Uganda and South Sudan.
“This is business, and that is what exists us; the more players we get, the more business to the airport, and also the more the airport grows. This is why we are expanding the facilities of the airport to try and have facilities that all these operators can comfortably operate from as well as improving the country’s aviation sector,” he said.
In addition, the Entebbe airport’s general manager noted that the new service will not only boost trade and tourism between the two nations but also deepen people-to-people connections.
The Deputy Ambassador of the Republic of South Sudan to Uganda, Margaret Apuol Daniel appreciated the Ugandan aviation industry for this great milestone.
“When we have operation between the two countries, it means improvement in developments, and we also expect our citizens to utilize this easy means because all along we have been flying to Nairobi and then to Juba, but now it’s a direct flight, hence lowering both time and costs,” she noted.
Mary Efata, the general manager of Menzies Aviation, expressed excitement for the launch of flights to Juba with a new player hoping to strengthen business cooperation as well as nations’ integrations through trade and commerce to grow their economies.
“As a ground handler at Entebbe airport, when we see an increase in the number of players in the aviation industry, it means there is growth which is good for both the country and the airline that has come, therefore we are very excited to start working with premier airlines,” Efata highlighted.
According to the senior manager of Premier Airlines, Isaac Chol, the aircraft with 80 capacity will not only enhance the movement of passengers between the two countries but also create opportunities, and the airline will be offering a 10 percent discount for those booking flights with them within the first week.
The flights are currently operated on Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, and tickets can also be booked via some selected travel agents.
The management of the airline says it charges $400 for a two-way ticket and $200 for a one-way ticket.
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