Africa One is to launch services with a McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30 on long-haul services, and is finalising the acquisition of short-haul aircraft.
The start-up airline, owned by Uganda's Das Air and Tanzania's Infra Investments, will launch passenger flights with the 267-seat DC-10 on 29 April, with a flight from London Gatwick to its hub in Entebbe, Uganda. Regular, twice-weekly services will begin on 1 May from Africa One's second hub in Lagos to Dubai via Entebbe. It will also fly on behalf of Gambia-based Red Air between Lagos and Gatwick via Banjul, Gambia and Freetown, Sierra Leone.
The airline plans to introduce Entebbe to London via Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and Johannesburg services, and is finalising the purchase of a second DC-10 for this expansion. Africa One will also launch regional feeder services into its two hubs within two months. It is finalising the acquisition of three short-haul aircraft - either Boeing MD-82s or McDonnell Douglas DC-9s.
Another Ugandan carrier Africa Air says it is planning to launch flights to Dubai; Harare in Zimbabwe; Johannesburg, South Africa; Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo; Lusaka, Zambia and Nairobi, Kenya. Africa Air says it has already acquired a Boeing 737-200. The 737-300 "is good for us because we already have pilots and mechanics trained on the type, as well as easy access to spares", says Africa Air's Benedict Mutyaba.
Source: Flight International
