The two new aircraft for the Uganda Airlines have been named after Kidepo and Kabalega National Parks, the Nile Post has learnt. The national carrier received the first batch of aircraft earlier this year and the last batch of the four Bombadier CRJ-900s that will ply the regional routes are set to arrive in the country later today, Monday and a function to welcome them will be held at Entebbe.
This website has however learnt that the new aircraft have been christened 5X KNP to mean Kabalega National Park and 5X KDP for Kidepo National Park. The crew in charge of the two new aircraft arriving in Uganda later today include captains Emmanuel Mutebi, Charles Karabarinde and Stephen Ariong.
The move according to sources within the airline is aimed at promoting tourism in the country by using names of the tourist attractions as a move to lure tourists.
The first batch of aircraft was named after the Uganda Kob. Speaking at the function to receive the first Bombadiers early this year, President Museveni said the revival of the Uganda Airlines will help boost tourism in the country.
“The number of tourists coming to Uganda has been increasing over time despite several stopovers in Dubai, Adis Ababa, Nairobi and Kigali. Then what will happen if they can fly directly to Uganda,” Museveni wondered.
The arrival of the two Bombadiers will make it four aircraft for the national carrier as it plans to add eight more routes to its regional schedule with African cities like Harare, Zanzibar and Kigali among others.
Uganda Airlines also expects to get two new Airbus planes in the next two years for long-distance travels and early this year orders for the A330-800 airliners were affirmed.
