By Executive Editor

By the time the national carrier hit the skies some time in 2019, the cost of fuel per litre stood at US$ 1.3.

Currently, a litre of fuel costs US$ 3.5.

This explains why Uganda Airlines airbus burns US$ 15, 000 fuel to Dubai, United Arab Emirates – UAE.

To fly to Mumbai and China, the Airbus will burn fuel worth US$ 120, 000 (one way). The cost in fuel is attributed to the on-going Russia-Ukraine war.

The Airlines Spokesperson Shakila Rahim says the cost of fuel is the reason Uganda Airlines need to popularize the routes and ensure that the seats are full each time the aircrafts fly out.

“We have to make sure that we develop these routes. We should make sure that these bellies go to these routes when it’s full,” Rahim says.

To further cut down on costs, Rakila says that “we want to develop our cargo operations (that’s why we ordering to freighters – long haul and short haul to carry cargo regionally and globally.”

Because, she adds: “we now think that the next gold is in cargo.”

During Covid, Rahim says that “so many airlines went into cargo” and “that is where we want to go as an airline.”

Uganda Airlines currently trades on about 11 routes out of the earlier 18 (before the Covid-19). The Airline intends to expand operations to 27 routes by June or July 2023. These will include flights to China and London.