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Turkey-Uganda trade relations get airline boost - 16 Jul 10 Turkish Airlines has launched its services in Uganda, offering the
first direct flights between Entebbe and Istanbul. The airline has also
launched a direct flight from Entebbe to Dar es Salaam. The entry of
Turkish Airlines, Europe’s fourth largest airline, is expected to see
an increase in trade between the two countries. Trade between the two
countries grew from $1 million in 2001 to $22 million in 2009,
according to figures from the Ministry of Trade.
Fr. Simon
Lokodo, the State Minister for Industry, said they will encourage more
flights from the airlines by easing Entebbe Airport charges, currently
the highest in East Africa. “We are doing the best to encourage the
Turks to come and explore and invest in Uganda. We want to make sure
that handling charges at the airport are not high to ease their
operations in Uganda,” Lokodo told The Observer after the launch.
Turkish
Airline will also offer a timely boost for Uganda’s perishable exports.
Fresh perishable products from Uganda like fruits and flowers which
took three to four days to reach Istanbul will now take about six hours.
Previously,
passengers had to use a longer and more costly route by flying from
Entebbe through Nairobi to Dubai and then finally to Istanbul.
Now
between June and September, Ugandans flying from Entebbe to Istanbul
will pay Shs 800.000 for a return air ticket inclusive of taxes. After
the special launch offer, passengers will pay Shs 1 million for a
return air ticket in economy class.
The airline now flies to 123
destinations in the world and hopes to add another 10 destinations to
make 133 before the end of the year. It operates at 160 international
airports in Africa, Asia, Europe and America. In Africa, the airline
flies to Accra, Cape Town, Johannesburg, Addis Ababa, Lagos, Nairobi,
Tripoli, Darker, Cairo, Khartoum and Tunisia.
Countries:None Specified
Source(s): Fresh Plaza
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