THREE YEAR DEAL SIGNED TO HELP PROMOTE UGANDA AIRLINES
(Posted 10th February 2020)
Uganda Airlines and UTB have signed a memorandum of understanding to combine their efforts to promote the tourism potential of Brand Destination Uganda. The two state agencies, one for promotion of tourism and the latter the national carrier signed the partnership last week.
The MoU signing was witnessed by Rt. Hon. Gen (Rtd.) Moses Ali, the First Deputy Prime Minister and Deputy Leader of Government Business in Parliament among others.
Uganda Airlines and UTB share a responsibility to develop the tourism industry in Uganda and will collaborate to promote Uganda as a destination, its people, culture, environment and attractions.
Under the 3 year agreement, Uganda Airlines will among other commitments promote Brand Destination Uganda in its numerous platforms, online, in-flight and on the ground at its sales offices in cities and airports across the world with Brand Destination Uganda messages. Similarly, UTB will through their respective tourism promotional campaigns and platforms present Uganda Airlines as the most convenient way to travel to Uganda. This will include, but is not limited to: promotional materials, online platforms including website, social media platforms as well as other multimedia and experiential campaigns. The two organisations agreed to work together to run join marketing and market research as well as collaborate in enabling Uganda’s other tourism players to participate in major African and international exhibitions. This will also include jointly organised familiarisation trips for travel agents, tour operators, press and bloggers, aimed at encouraging travellers to visit Destination Uganda and fly Uganda Airlines.
Under the landmark deal, the two organisations will also jointly develop Visit Uganda tour and travel packages for special events and holidays on Uganda Airlines. As well as developing new tourism products especially in the areas of MICE (Meetings, Conferences, & Event) others especially highlighting local heritage and cultural diversity, nature and sustainability.
Commenting about the historic partnership, Mr. Cornwell Muleya, CEO of Uganda Airlines, said the partnership was both in line with their mandate and timely as the airline embarks on the next phase of its route expansion plans. “We want the world to Discover Uganda through Uganda Airlines. Uganda Airlines showcases Uganda through our products service, and we connect Uganda to the world and the world to Uganda. We are excited to work with UTB to promote Uganda, its resources, its people and culture around the world – that is the essence of this partnership. In the last 5 months Uganda Airlines has opened 8 routes across the region, and more routes will be launched in the coming months. We are preparing for the arrival of our first Airbus A330-800 neo aircraft at the end of this year, and the second in January 2021, ready to embark on long haul international routes in the first quarter of 2021 we are targeting to start 3 intercontinental routes such as London, Dubai and Guangzhou in China‘.
The Uganda National Airline Company Ltd, trading as Uganda Airlines is a limited liability company owned by the Government of Uganda. The national carrier started operations on 28th of August 2019 and operates a fleet of four Bombardier CRJ900 aircraft.
The airline currently flies to 8 regional destination including Nairobi, Mombasa, Dar es Salaam, Kilimanjaro, Zanzibar, Mogadishu, Bujumbura and Juba and is aiming to launch flights to other African cities during 2020, including flights to Johannesburg.
Following the delivery of two new Airbus A330- 800neo, expected at the end of this year, Uganda Airlines aims to introduce intercontinental operations in the first quarter of 2021 with flights to Europe, Asia and the Middle East to destinations such as London, Dubai, and Guangzhou.
