Uganda Airlines (1976–2001)

Last updated

Uganda Airlines
UgandaAirlines2.jpg
IATA ICAO Call sign
QUUGAUGANDA
FoundedMay 1976 (1976-05)
Commenced operations1977 (1977)
Ceased operationsMay 2001 (2001-05)
Hubs Entebbe International Airport
Parent company Government of Uganda
Headquarters Entebbe, Wakiso District, Uganda

Uganda Airlines, legally Uganda Airlines Corporation, was the flag carrier of Uganda. [1] The airline was established in May 1976, and started operations in 1977. It was headquartered in Entebbe, Wakiso District, Uganda, and operated from its hub in Entebbe International Airport. [2]

Contents

Attempts were made by the Government of Uganda to privatise the company, but all potential bidders pulled out, eventually leading to the liquidation of Uganda Airlines Corporation in May 2001. The airline was later revived and began flying again in 2019 under the same name, Uganda Airlines. [3]

History

A Uganda Airlines Boeing 707-320C at Euroairport in 1980. Uganda Airlines Boeing 707-320C 5X-UAC LFSB Oct 1980.png
A Uganda Airlines Boeing 707-320C at Euroairport in 1980.

Uganda Airlines was founded as a subsidiary of the government-owned Uganda Development Corporation (UDC) in May 1976 as a replacement of the services previously operated by East African Airways. [4] It commenced operations in 1977, when Uganda Aviation Services (UAS), set up by British United Airways in 1965 but then a UDC subsidiary, was absorbed by Uganda Airlines, taking over the UAS route network. [4] [5] [6] Following delivery of the first Boeing 707-320C in the late 1970s, new routes to Brussels, London and Rome were inaugurated. A second Boeing 707-320C entered the fleet in 1981. That year, new routes to Cairo, Cologne and Dubai were launched, followed by Dar es Salaam, Kilimanjaro and Nairobi in subsequent years. [7]

By March 1990 the fleet included one Boeing 707-320C, two Fokker F27-600s, one Lockheed L-100-30, one Twin Otter and one B-N Trislander. [8] A Boeing 737 was leased from Air Zimbabwe in 1994 to serve Bujumbura and Kigali, as well as destinations in South Africa. Tel Aviv was added to the route network in 1995, and by 1998 all European routes were discontinued. [7]

Upon the creation of Alliance Air in late 1994—later known as SA Alliance—an entity jointly owned by the Tanzanian and Ugandan governments, Air Tanzania and Uganda Airlines, as well as by South African Airways (SAA), Tanzania and Uganda granted the rights of long-haul operations to the new airline. [9] [10] [11] The agreement intended to feed Alliance Air's operations with both Air Tanzania and Uganda Airlines domestic and regional services. [9] [12] However, both regional carriers grew less than expected, and the deficit Uganda Airlines accumulated led the Ugandan Government to make a decision on whether to liquidate the airline or privatise it. [9]

Privatisation attempt and collapse

In the late 1990s, the airline was in a delicate cash position owing to mismanagement, [13] when the Government of Uganda planned to privatise the debt-ridden airline, seeking for an investor to keep the company afloat. Initially, several firms held an interest in taking over Uganda Airlines. SA Alliance/SAA, Air Mauritius, British Airways, Johannesburg-based Inter Air, Kenya Airways, and Sabena, all seemed to be interested bidders at the beginning, [13] [14] [15] but eventually declined to submit bids, except for SAA that remained the only bidder by early 1999. [16] [17] SAA would have had a 49% participation in the company; [16] nevertheless, it later dropped its bid after encountering strong legislature opposition. [9] [18] Having no offers, the Ugandan Government liquidated the airline in May 2001. [19] [20]

Destinations

A Uganda Airlines Boeing 707-320C at Fiumicino Airport in 1987. Uganda Airlines Boeing 707-320C 5X-UAC FCO Oct 1987.png
A Uganda Airlines Boeing 707-320C at Fiumicino Airport in 1987.

From its hub in Entebbe International Airport, in its heyday the company used to operate scheduled services to destinations within Africa, Europe and Middle East. Following is a list of destinations Uganda Airlines served all through its history:

CountryCityAirportNotesRefs
Belgium Brussels Brussels Airport [21]
Burundi Bujumbura Bujumbura International Airport [22]
Democratic Republic of the Congo Goma Goma International Airport [23]
Kinshasa N'djili Airport [23]
Germany Cologne Cologne Bonn Airport [24]
Israel Tel Aviv Ben Gurion Airport [7]
Italy Rome Rome Fiumicino Airport [24]
Kenya Mombasa Moi International Airport [25]
Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta International Airport [24]
Rwanda Kigali Kigali International Airport [26]
South Africa Johannesburg O. R. Tambo International Airport [26]
Tanzania Dar-es-Salaam Julius Nyerere International Airport [24]
Kilimanjaro Kilimanjaro International Airport [24]
Mwanza Mwanza Airport [27]
Uganda Arua Arua Airport [24]
Entebbe/Kampala Entebbe International Airport Hub [24]
Gulu Gulu Airport [24]
Kasese Kasese Airport [24]
Mbarara Mbarara Airport [24]
Soroti Soroti Airport [28]
Tororo Tororo Airport [28]
United Arab Emirates Dubai Dubai International Airport [24]
United Kingdom London Gatwick Airport [24]
Stansted Airport [29]
Zambia Lusaka Lusaka International Airport [26]
Zimbabwe Harare Harare International Airport [26]

Codeshare agreements

Following is a list of companies Uganda Airlines had codeshare agreements with at the time of closure; routes were actually operated by Uganda Airlines: [30]

Fleet

5X-UBC, a Uganda Airlines Boeing 707-320C, is seen here at Fiumicino Airport in 1983. This very aircraft crashed at the same airport on 17 October 1988. Uganda Airlines Boeing 707-300C 5X-UBC FCO Apr 1983.png
5X-UBC, a Uganda Airlines Boeing 707-320C, is seen here at Fiumicino Airport in 1983. This very aircraft crashed at the same airport on 17 October 1988.

Historically, the company operated the following aircraft:

Accidents and incidents

According to Aviation Safety Network, the airline experienced three accidents/incidents throughout its history; only one of them yielded fatalities. [32] Hull-losses are listed below.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South African Airways</span> Flag carrier of South Africa

South African Airways (SAA) is the flag carrier of South Africa. Founded in 1934, the airline is headquartered in Airways Park at O. R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg and operates a hub-and-spoke network, serving 13 destinations in Africa and two intercontinental destinations to Perth, Australia and São Paulo, Brazil. The carrier joined Star Alliance in April 2006, making it the first African carrier to sign with one of the three major airline alliances.

Kenya Airways Ltd., more commonly known as Kenya Airways, is the flag carrier airline of Kenya. The company was founded in 1977, after the dissolution of East African Airways. Its head office is located in Embakasi, Nairobi, with its hub at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.

Air Mauritius is the flag carrier airline of Mauritius. The airline is headquartered in Port Louis, Mauritius, with its hub at Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kuwait Airways</span> Flag carrier of Kuwait

Kuwait Airways is the flag carrier of Kuwait, with its head office on the grounds of Kuwait International Airport, Al Farwaniyah Governorate. It operates scheduled international services throughout the Middle East, to the Indian subcontinent, Europe, Southeast Asia and North America, from its main base at Kuwait International Airport.

Sudan Airways is the national airline of Sudan, headquartered in Khartoum. Since 2012, the company has been fully owned by the Government of Sudan.

Air Tanzania Company Limited (ATCL) (Swahili: Kampuni ya Ndege ya Tanzania) is the flag carrier airline of Tanzania. It is based in Dar es Salaam, with its hub at Julius Nyerere International Airport.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dan-Air</span> Defunct airline of the United Kingdom (1953–1992)

Dan-Air was an airline based in the United Kingdom and a wholly owned subsidiary of London-based shipbroking firm Davies and Newman. It was started in 1953 with a single aircraft. Initially, it operated cargo and passenger charter flights from Southend (1953–1955) and Blackbushe airports (1955–1960) using a variety of piston-engined aircraft before moving to a new base at Gatwick Airport in 1960, followed by expansion into inclusive tour (IT) charter flights and all-year round scheduled services. The introduction of two de Havilland Comet series 4 jet aircraft in 1966 made Dan-Air the second British independent airline after British United Airways to begin sustained jet operations.

Middle East Airlines – Air Liban S.A.L., more commonly known as Middle East Airlines (MEA), is the flag carrier of Lebanon, with its head office in Beirut, near Beirut–Rafic Hariri International Airport. It operates scheduled international flights to Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa from its base at Rafic Hariri International Airport.

TAAG Angola Airlines E.P. is a state-owned airline and flag carrier of Angola. Based in Luanda, the airline operates domestic services within Angola, medium-haul services in Africa and long-haul services to Brazil, Cuba, and Portugal. The airline was originally set up by the government as DTA – Divisão dos Transportes Aéreos in 1938, rechristened TAAG Angola Airlines in 1973, and gained flag carrier status in 1975. It is now a member of both the International Air Transport Association and the African Airlines Association.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LAM Mozambique Airlines</span> Flag carrier of Mozambique

LAM - Mozambique Airlines, S. A. or Linhas Aéreas de Moçambique, Ltd., operating as LAM Mozambique Airlines, is the flag carrier of Mozambique. The airline was established by the Portuguese colonial government of Mozambique in August 1936 as a charter carrier named DETA - Direcção de Exploração de Transportes Aéreos, and was renamed in 1980 following reorganisation. LAM Mozambique Airlines is based in Maputo, and has its hub at Maputo International Airport. It operates scheduled services in Southern Africa. The company is a member of the International Air Transport Association, and of the African Airlines Association since 1976.

Cargo Plus Aviation was a cargo airline based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. It operated ad hoc flights to Asia, Africa and eastern Europe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nigeria Airways</span> Defunct airline (1958–2003)

Nigeria Airways Ltd., more commonly known as Nigeria Airways, was a one-time Nigerian airline. The company was founded in 1958 after the dissolution of West African Airways Corporation (WAAC). It held the name West African Airways Corporation Nigeria until 1971, when it was renamed, until it ceased operations in 2003. The government of Nigeria owned a majority of the airline (51%) until 1961, when it boosted its shareholding in the company to 100% and made it the country's flag carrier. At the time of dissolution, the airline's headquarters were at Airways House in Abuja. Operations were concentrated at Murtala Muhammed International Airport and served both domestic and international destinations mainly concentrated in West Africa; the network also had points in Europe, North America and Saudi Arabia. The airline was managed by a number of foreign companies, including British Airways, KLM and South African Airways.

East African Airways Corporation, more commonly known as East African Airways, was an airline jointly run by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. It was set up on 1 January 1946, starting operations the same year. The airline was headquartered in the Sadler House in Nairobi, Kenya. The corporation was dissolved in 1977 amid deteriorated relations among the three countries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zambia Airways</span> Zambian flag carrier

Zambia Airways is the flag carrier of the Republic of Zambia. The airline is based in Lusaka, Zambia with its hub at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Air Uganda</span> Defunct national airline of Uganda (2007–2014)

Meridiana Africa Airlines (Uganda) Limited, trading as Air Uganda, was a privately owned airline in Uganda from 2007 to 2014. It suspended its operations when the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) revoked the airline's air operator's certificate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Air Rwanda</span>

Société Nationale des Transports Aériens du Rwanda, or Air Rwanda as the airline was commonly known was the national airline of Rwanda, with its base at Kigali International Airport in Kigali. The airline operated for 21 years. In 1996 the airline was rebranded and renamed to Rwanda Air which finally led to the formation of RwandAir in 2002.

Tempair International Airlines Ltd, more commonly known as Tempair, was a UK-based aircraft lease operator, founded in 1972. The airline was headquartered in Windsor, Berkshire. Mounting financial difficulties led to the liquidation of the company in late 1976.

Alliance Airlines was a multi-national long-haul airline based at Entebbe International Airport in Uganda. It was set up in 1995 as a joint venture between South African Airways and the governments of Tanzania and Uganda. The airline ceased operations in 2000.

Uganda Airlines, legally Uganda National Airlines Company, is the flag carrier of Uganda. The company is a revival of the older Uganda Airlines which operated from 1977 until 2001. The current carrier began flying in August 2019.

References

  1. ↑ "Uganda plans to relaunch Uganda Airlines and invest USD400 million in airport developments". Centre for Aviation. 1 August 2013. Archived from the original on 12 August 2013.
  2. ↑ Tentena, Paul (16 July 2013). "Uganda Ponders Airline Revival". Allafrica.com. East African Business Week. Archived from the original on 23 July 2013.
  3. ↑ 18 Jul; On-Location, 2018 Mark Nensel | ATW. "Revived Uganda flag carrier orders CRJ900s, A330neos". atwonline.com. Retrieved 21 August 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  4. 1 2 3 4 "World Airline Directory – Uganda Airlines". Flight International: 129. 30 March 1985. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 November 2012. Retrieved 14 July 2012.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 "World airline directory 1979 – Uganda Airlines". Flight International . 115 (3658): 1410. 28 April 1979.  Archived 16 January 2015 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ↑ "World airline directory – Uganda Aviation Services (UAS)". Flight International : 61. 21 March 1974. Retrieved 20 January 2012.
  7. 1 2 3 Guttery 1998, p. 215.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 "World Airline Directory – Uganda Airlines". Flight International . 137 (4207): 135. 14–20 March 1990. ISSN   0015-3710. Archived from the original on 3 October 2013.
  9. 1 2 3 4 Wakabi, Michael (3 November 1999). "Connecting East Africa". Flightglobal. Flight International. Archived from the original on 24 October 2012.
  10. ↑ Wakabi, Michael (17 February 1999). "Alliance becomes SA Alliance". Flightglobal. Flight International. Archived from the original on 4 November 2012.
  11. ↑ "African turf fight". Flightglobal. Airline Business. 1 January 1998. Archived from the original on 26 April 2014.
  12. ↑ "Three nations combine to form new African carrier". Flight International. 146 (4452): 2. 21 December 1994 – 3 January 1995. ISSN   0015-3710. Archived from the original on 5 November 2012. Air Tanzania and Uganda Airlines, both of which are minor shareholders in Alliance, will act as feeders for the new airline.
  13. 1 2 3 Gill, Tom (1 June 1998). "Uganda eyes foreign cash". Flightglobal.com. Airline Business. Archived from the original on 4 November 2012. Retrieved 14 July 2012.
  14. 1 2 Yates, Chris (25 November 1998). "Pressure mounts for Uganda Airlines". London: Flightglobal.com. Flight International. Archived from the original on 4 November 2012. Retrieved 14 July 2012.
  15. ↑ "Air Mauritius pulls out of Uganda discussions". Flight International: 24. 28 April – 4 May 1999. Retrieved 7 August 2011.
  16. 1 2 3 Wakabi, Michael (11 January 2000). "Uganda slashes services ahead of SAA takeover". Kampala: Flightglobal.com. Flight International. Archived from the original on 4 November 2012. Retrieved 14 July 2012.
  17. ↑ Wakabi, Michael (12 May 1999). "Uganda discusses airline sale with SAA". Kampala: Flightglobal.com. Flight International. Archived from the original on 31 July 2012. Retrieved 14 July 2012.
  18. ↑ Wakabi, Michael (25 April 2000). "SAA sets its sights on Air Tanzania after pulling out of bid for Uganda". Kampala: Flightglobal.com. Flight International. Archived from the original on 7 March 2016. Retrieved 14 July 2012.
  19. ↑ "Increasing tourism, economic growth and oil make Uganda an attractive destination". Centre for Aviation. 2 December 2011. Archived from the original on 18 November 2016.
  20. ↑ "Air Uganda opens flights to Kenya, Sudan, Tanzania". Sudan Tribune. Reuters. 16 November 2007. Archived from the original on 5 August 2012.
  21. ↑ "Uganda Airlines Summer Schedules (Effective 1 April 1982 –31 October 1982)—European services". Airline Timetable Images. Archived from the original on 19 August 2013.
  22. ↑ "World Airline Directory – Uganda Airlines". Flight International : 109. 4–10 April 2000. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 14 July 2012.
  23. 1 2 "World Airline Directory – Uganda Airlines" (PDF). Flight International : 91. 1–7 April 1998. Retrieved 20 January 2012.
  24. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 "Uganda Airlines Timetable (Effective 30 March 1986 –25 October 1986)". Airline Timetable Images. Retrieved 20 January 2012.
  25. ↑ "World Airline Directory – Uganda Airlines" (PDF). Flight International : 84. 3–9 April 1996. Retrieved 20 January 2012.
  26. 1 2 3 4 "World Airline Directory – Uganda Airlines" (pdf). Flight International: 106. 31 March – 6 April 1999. Retrieved 25 March 2011.
  27. ↑ "Uganda Airlines Summer Schedules (Effective 1 April 1982 –31 October 1982)—International services: Tanzania/Kenya/Uganda". Airline Timetable Images. Retrieved 20 January 2012.
  28. 1 2 "Uganda Airlines Summer Schedules (Effective 1 April 1982 –31 October 1982)—Domestic services: East/Northern". Airline Timetable Images. Retrieved 20 January 2012.
  29. ↑ "Amin cargo flights banned by Britain" (PDF). Flight International: 815. 17 March 1979. Retrieved 12 May 2011. Uganda Airlines' regular cargo flights between Stansted and Entebbe have been stopped by the British Government, although there is no embargo on return services.
  30. ↑ Wakabi, Michael (6 March 2001). "Uganda Airlines liquidation clears way for start-ups". Flightglobal. Flight International. Archived from the original on 6 March 2016.
  31. ↑ Wakabi, Michael (4 August 1999). "Serving Africa". Flightglobal. Flight International. Archived from the original on 6 March 2016.
  32. ↑ "Accident record for Uganda Airlines". Aviation Safety Network. 28 November 2004. Retrieved 19 July 2011.
  33. ↑ Incident descriptionfor 5X-UAL at the Aviation Safety Network . Retrieved on 20 January 2012.
  34. ↑ Accident descriptionfor 5X-UBC at the Aviation Safety Network . Retrieved on 19 July 2011.
  35. ↑ "COMMERCIAL FLIGHT SAFETY – FATAL ACCIDENTS: SCHEDULED PASSENGER FLIGHTS" (pdf). Flight International: 51. 21 January 1989. Retrieved 19 July 2011.
  36. ↑ Suro, Robert (17 October 1988). "30 Dead in Jet Crash Near Rome". The New York Times . Archived from the original on 25 May 2015. Retrieved 14 July 2012.

Bibliography

Commons-logo.svg Media related to Uganda Airlines (1976-2001) at Wikimedia Commons

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.