NRM Vice Chairperson for Eastern Uganda Capt. Mike Mukula has urged East African member states to consider putting in place one regional airline instead of splitting the aviation market with numerous airlines.
He said with air transport infrastructure already in place, all that is needed is for EA countries to combine the market for bigger benefits, instead of partitioning the small market available today.
Mukula made the remarks during the 8th graduation ceremony for Uganda Aviation Academy held at Protea hotel in Kampala.
As a landlocked country, he says the revival of a national airline is a blessing, and all Uganda needs to broaden its connectivity to the world through development of the aviation sector. He said the future of aviation on the continent is bright.
Mukula a flight captain, appealed to policy makers to devise means of pooling resources to create an East African Airline that will connect the entire east Africa and Africa at large . He said with such an initiative developed, the future of Africa is bright.
He said the differences between Rwanda and Uganda involving closing of borders should be resolved soon, so that there is common trade between the two countrues as well as air transport business.
The 8th graduation registered 69 graduands with qualifications in a number of disciplines including airline cabin crew sevice, airline customer services, aviation security awareness, and IATA fares and ticketing course.
He said the academy this year is set to partner with Ethiopian Airlines Academy in which they will build the African synergy in developing the aviation industry.
He said he hopes the skills and knowledge attained through the academy will be transferred to the national airline -Uganda Airlines.
The event was attended by big players in the aviation industry, policy makers and the chief guest was President Museveni who was represented by Minister of Works Hon. Ntege Azuba.