AIRBUS INKS DEAL TO SELL PASSENGER PLANES TO UGANDA

From left to right; Hadi Akoum, Airbus Vice President Sales Africa and Indian Sub-Ocean Customer Affairs, Airbus Chief Commercial Officer Eric Schulz, Uganda Airlines Chief Executive Officer Ephraim Bagenda and John Kelly, Senior Vice-President Customers, Rolls-Royce Civil Aerospace during the signing of an MoU for two A330-800neo aircraft to Uganda at the 2018 Farnborough Airshow on July 18, 2017.

Airbus said on Wednesday it had signed an agreement to sell two commercial passenger planes to Uganda as part of the country’s plan to revive its national airline which has been defunct for years.

The government of long-ruling President Yoweri Museveni has said restarting the national carrier will help Uganda take a slice of the region’s growing aviation business and also invigorate the service sector of the economy.

Kenya Airways, South Africa Airways and Ethiopian Airlines currently dominate the country’s air travel business.

In a statement on the memorandum of understanding signed at the Farnborough airshow in the UK, Airbus said Uganda would purchase two A330-800neo aircrafts.

An iteration of Airbus’ A330 widebody airliner, the A330-800neo features new wings and Rolls-Royce’s new generation Trent 7000 engines.

Airbus’ chief commercial officer, Eric Schulz said in the statement that the planes would “bring a range of benefits offering unrivalled efficiencies with the most modern cabin. We look forward to see the A330-800neo flying in the colours of Uganda.”

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