Air transport is growing in Kisoro district, with major clients being foreign and domestic tourists, followed by business class.
The main aviation companies flying to Kisoro airfield are Aerolink Uganda and BAR aviation, with an average of 3-4 flights daily.
Local people from Kisoro are among the clients, with some saying they prefer air transport because of its agility and respecting time schedules. A direct flight from Nyakabande to Entebbe takes 45 minutes while flying either through Kihihi, Kasese or Jinja takes 1 hour and 15 minutes.
Planes may fly through Kanungu, Kasese, or Jinja to either drop off or pick up more travelers.
Roland Kanya, the former Bufumbira East MP contestant who flew Thursday morning told Voice of Muhabura that flights are cost-effective for individual travel.
Mr. Roland said, “I have been flying to Kisoro using either Aerolink or BAR Aviation, and it makes sense if you’re coming from Kampala to use aviation because of the costs.”
He adds that it is cost-effective for individual travel, compared to road transport where car service, fueling, and chauffer stipends will be a necessity.
“Perhaps, if you’re travelling as a group, it is more cost-effective to drive.” He advised. However, Roland thinks that air transport is not yet affordable for most local people, with a view that costs could drop with a rise in travelers.
Zachary Bigirimana, the founding President of Kisoro-Mgahinga Rotary Club says he has been using air transport for convenience.
He states that flying is not expensive as many would assume.
“If you say expensive, I may drive from Kisoro, a journey of 8 hours, do vehicle servicing, fueling, sleep along the way; but mostly, it’s tiresome.”
Mr. Bigirimana says the drive ends up being expensive compared to flights.
At 75, he also prefers air transport to long drives due to old age, which regularly comes with feeble bodies. People with special attention to time also prefer flights to finish their busy schedules in time, according to Zachary Bigirimana.
Catherine Mugo, the Country Manager for Aerolink Uganda told Voice of Muhabura that their Kisoro flights have risen thanks to affordable rates and local tourism at Bwindi and Mgahinga National Parks.
Foreign and Local tourists track the endangered Mountain Gorillas from the two parks.
“Most visitors track gorillas from Mgahinga and Bwindi. It’s also convenient. So, compared to an 8-plus- hour drive from Kisoro to Kampala, a flight takes between 45 -75 minutes”, said Ms. Mugo.
Aerolink Uganda makes an average of 3-4 flights a day. Ms. Mugo says their 11-seater aircraft are sometimes at full capacity. She noted that for locals, a return ticket costs Shs 950,000 while a one-way ticket goes for Shs 570,000.
The air company also operates morning flights, with the Country Manager saying “morning hours in Kisoro have calm skies.”
“Kisoro is a hilly area and tends to have some heavy winds in the afternoon…but private charter flights can be booked for any time because a pilot can wait for winds to calm down before flying. So, it’s about maximum safety for our clients”, said Ms. Mugo.
However, the companies’ pilots complain of numerous rough patches on the runway and tall trees around the Kisoro airstrip.
Previously, Kisoro leaders have called for the expansion of Kisoro Airfield to enable big aircraft to boost tourism and regional trade. The request was made to President Museveni on his three visits to Kisoro in 2019, 2020 ad 2021.
At a recent Kigezi Investment Summit held at Kisoro Industrial & Business Park, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) said that expansion was in process to facilitate operations of tourism, investment, and trade.
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