Monica Azuba, the minister of works and transport will today, Monday, April 15 officially receive two Uganda Airlines’ CRJ900 aircrafts from Bombadier.
Azuba, who led a Uganda government delegation was received by Uganda’s high commissioner to Canada Joy Ruth Acheng.
This after Parliament approved Shs280billion supplementary budget as last installment for the purchase of two Bombardier jets whose tentative arrival – the first in the series to have the new cabin enhancements – in Uganda is April 23, but commercial operations will only be able to start in July.
Uganda Airlines will be the first airline in Africa to operate them.
“It is important to note when the aircraft arrive they will not immediately start commercial flights until they complete the Air Operator Certification (AOC certification) process,” Azuba said last Wednesday before flying out.
“This process has five phases and will take approximately 90 days to complete setting the timeline for start of commercial operations to be July 2019.”
In Canada, Azuba said the aircrafts will be officially handed over to the team by the manufacturer.
“The engineers and pilots have already tested it. Everything is ready. We shall fly from Montreal on Friday April 19 through Iceland and Egypt before arriving at Entebbe Airport on April 23,” she said.
During this 90 day certification process, Bombardier will be showcasing the CRJ900 new cabin to other countries across Africa as a marketing strategy.
Currently Uganda has signed forty seven (47) Bilateral Air Services Agreements (BASAs) with other countries which will need to be activated.
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