RwandAir and Air Uganda signed a code share agreement yesterday on their flights between Entebbe and Kigali to enable both airlines and travel agents to sell tickets on each other’s flights. “What the East African Community needs now more than ever is to see operators offer value that will facilitate regional movement and growth as opposed to restrictive modes of operation. This is a bold and positive step by both carriers,” John Mirenge, Chairman Board of Directors of RwandAir said in a joint press statement. According to the press statement, the agreement between the two airlines will offer customers the same combinable fares on the same tickets, making it cheaper and simpler for their customers to use both airlines flights. The partnership will allow passengers to enjoy a day return from both Uganda and Rwanda whilst bypassing Nairobi, saving time combining the non-stop flights of both airlines. Rene Janata, the Chief Executive Officer of RwandAir, said that both airlines operate the same kind of fleet on this route and it only makes sense to the consumer if the two destinations are served with seamless schedules and fares The code share will also enable travel agents to sell combinable fares on both airlines using the same ticket. Ticketing for these flights can be done at travel agents, Air Uganda or RwandAir’s offices in Rwanda, Uganda and throughout East Africa. The press statement also pointed out that with their synchronised schedules, RwandAir and Air Uganda will offer passengers daily morning and evening flights between Entebbe and Kigali. Air Uganda will operate a morning flight at 0900HRS (local time Entebbe) from Entebbe to Kigali and depart Kigali at 0915HRS (Local time Kigali) for Entebbe. RwandAir will operate a flight out of Kigali in the evening at 1900HRS (Local time Kigali), and depart from Entebbe at 2120HRS (local time Entebbe) for Kigali. “With this new code share agreement, both airlines seek to provide additional benefits and services to our mutual customers travelling between Entebbe and Kigali”. Said Hugh Frase, Air Uganda’s CEO. With the same 50-seater Bombardier CRJ JET aircraft operated by both RwandAir and Air Uganda, passengers should be able to enjoy the same level of comfort and speed on whichever airline they travel between Kigali and Entebbe, the airlines said. Air Uganda and RwandAir currently serve a growing network of regional destinations including Entebbe, Nairobi, Juba, Dar es Salaam, Johannesburg, Bujumbura, Kilimanjaro, Kamembe, Mombasa and Zanzibar. Ends
