Air Uganda became the latest airline to offer flights to Somali’s capital, Mogadishu making its first inaugural flight to Aden Abdulle International Airport on Monday.
Air Uganda, is the latest airline to invest in the economic recovery of the formally war-torn country, with the three weekly flights it has announced.
In March last year, international carrier Turkish Airlines began twice-weekly flights between the Turkish capital Ankara and Mogadishu.
Government officials from both Somalia and Uganda welcomed the Air Uganda jet with the symbolic, “water canon salute”.
Aden Abdulle International Airport, located in the seaside capital, is recording a sharp increase in travellers and air traffic, thanks to the relative calm that has returned to the city and other parts of the country, over the last two years.
“This is the second international airline that comes to Mogadishu, the first is Turkish airline, the second African airline is Air Uganda, and the others are local airlines. This is a very good day for Mogadishu, it’s very good day for the Mogadishu travellers,” said Mohammed Nur, the Mayor of Mogadishu.
Extremist group al Shabaab has been forced out of most urban areas in sustained operations by the Somali National Army with the support of troops from the African Union force, AMISOM.
During Somalia’s conflict years, the only aircraft that braved its airspace were hired by daring businessmen to bring in Khat, a plant grown in neighbouring Kenya and Ethiopia that has a stimulating effect when chewed.
Air Uganda’s managers say they are targeting Somali travellers, government officials, military personnel and a growing number of entrepreneurs from around the region who are keen on seeking opportunities in the country, after two decades of war.
Nathan Mugisha, Uganda’s deputy ambassador to Somalia who was on board the inaugural flight, said the Air Uganda route to Mogadishu will also help promote trade and communication between the two countries.
“After sweating, after shedding blood and then followed by this, it’s an illustration that there is peace and peace is going to be maintained and this is going to reduce time for Somalis and the Ugandans who want to come here and this will help to cement our relationship further and will promote communication between the people, business, goods and so life will be greatly improved,” he said.
Somalia’s Minister of Information recently announced that the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) had removed Aden Abdulle International Airport from the ‘Zone 5’ list of airports ‘deemed to pose a security risk to aircraft, crew and passengers’.
Several private airlines based in East Africa, including Kenya’s African Express and SAX, as well as Somali-owned private carriers like Jubba Airways and Daallo Airlines, also currently flies to Mogadishu.