Qatar Airways Announce Flight Services to Entebbe

An Asian airline that stopped flying to Entebbe eight years ago has returned, weeks after Qatar Airways announced its entry in the country.

Gulf Air, the national carrier of the kingdom of Bahrain, and one of the largest network operators in the Middle East, will re-launch direct flights between Bahrain and Entebbe on December 5, 2011, a month before Qatar flags off its daily flights between Doha and Entebbe. This sets the road for tight competition as the number of Asian airlines climbs to four after Turkish Airways joined last year.

The other is Emirates, owned by the United Arab Emirates government; it has been flying Entebbe since the late 90s. Speaking during a media conference at Sheraton Kampala hotel, Karim Makhlouf, Gulf Air’s Chief Commercial Officer, noted that the airline has come in with new products to ensure they re-establish their market niche.

Operating an Airbus A320 in a two-class configuration of 16 executive seats and 120 economy seats, the airline has what it calls “full connectivity” which allows phoning and smsing on the aircraft, provides broadband internet and allows watching live television with exclusive channels where passengers can watch live football Premiership games.

The airline also has what it calls ’sky nannies’, a unique and dedicated service where trained flight attendants are on board to care for children -letting you relax with your children under safe hands.

“Although there is competition, we are confident that with our services, we can convince a customer to fly with us,” Makhlouf said.

He added: “Gulf Air has made considerable changes to its service portfolio and I believe this new route will be a success to both our passengers and cargo operations.”

The airline has also set its fares so low compared to other airlines. The introductory fares are $200 to the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and Indian sub-continent, and $350 to the Middle East, Asia and Europe. This comes with a baggage allowance of 40kg. Qatar airways has put its fares at $434 to Dubai, $449 to Bengalore and $680 to London, while Emirates charges $870 to Dubai, $960 to Mumbai (Bombay), and $1,023 to Bangkok, Copenhagen and Geneva.

This leaves Gulf Air as the cheapest airline in terms of fees. Founded in 1950 as an air taxi service to Doha and Dhahran from Bahrain by a British pilot, Freddie Bosworth, Gulf has over the years grown its portfolio. This year alone, Entebbe becomes the ninth destination to be added to its list. The airline already flies to Nairobi, Addis Ababa, Geneva, and Copenhagen, among others.

Given its success in Nairobi where it started early this year with three flights a week which have now grown to nine flights a week, Makhlouf is optimistic the airline will give the other competitors a ride for their money. Gulf Air kicks off with four flights a week connecting Entebbe to Bahrain.

According to Makhlouf, the comeback of Gulf Air is because of the growing business at Entebbe airport which has seen its passenger numbers grow from 400,000 annually eight years ago to more than 1.2 million today. Makhlouf is optimistic that once they fly off, the carrier will grow Entebbe’s passenger numbers by 60,000 in the first year.

The entry of more airlines from the Middle East is an indication of the growing trade between East Africa and the far East. Dubai, Instanbul are already seen as a good gateway to places such as China, India and Singapore. Currently, Uganda alone is estimated to have over 45,000 people living in United Arab Emirates.