1. Home
  2. Stories
  3. Logistics
  4. Aviation

Saudi Arabia’s Flynas launches flights to Uganda

Peter 20th Jan, 2025 Logistics Pedson Mumbere
Saudi Arabia’s Flynas launches flights to Uganda

Flynas Airline’s Airbus 320 NEO receives a water cannon welcome salute on arrival at Entebbe International Airport. COURTESY PHOTO


Flynas, a popular Saudi Arabian low-cost airline, has inaugurated its flights from Riyadh to Entebbe International Airport.

The airline’s Airbus 320 NEO received a water cannon welcome salute at Entebbe to mark the occasion, and is scheduled to have three weekly flights on Monday, Thursday, and Saturday.

Formerly National Air Services (NAS Air), the company changed its name from Nas Air to Flynas in November 2013 and has since grown to become one of the Middle East’s leading low-cost carriers, operating a fleet of 61 aircraft to over 70 destinations worldwide.

  • The airline, which has consistently been ranked among the best low-cost carriers globally, is potentially set to give Uganda Airlines a good run for its money on the lucrative route.

But according to Uganda Civil Aviation Authority, the coming of Flynas is a crucial development for both Uganda’s tourism and trade sectors. The direct connection is expected to foster significant growth in tourism, particularly eco-tourism and adventure travel, while also providing Ugandan businesses with better access to the Saudi market.

“This new flight route marks a significant milestone for Uganda’s tourism sector,” Vianney Luggya, the spokesperson for the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA), told this publication.

  • “With Flynas offering affordable travel options, we expect to see a substantial increase in the number of Middle Eastern tourists visiting Uganda’s renowned attractions, such as the mountain gorillas and our pristine national parks.”

The Middle East, particularly Saudi Arabia, has seen growing interest in adventure and eco-tourism, which Uganda excels in. This new air link would allow Middle Eastern tourists easier and more affordable access to Uganda’s national parks, safaris, and cultural heritage sites.

The UCAA projects that the new route could increase tourist arrivals from the Middle East by at least 10% within the first year of operations.

Also, Saudi Arabia has in recent years become a major destination for Ugandans seeking jobs. According to official estimates, around 165,000 Ugandans are working in temporary employment contracts in Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states, primarily as domestic workers, with hundreds more preparing to go.

Also, the airline would cash in from the annual pilgrimage to Mecca as Uganda is one of the leading senders of pilgrims on the annual hijja.

  • In addition to tourism, the introduction of direct flights between Riyadh and Entebbe holds considerable promise for expanding trade between Uganda and Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia is already one of Uganda’s key trade partners, with bilateral trade valued at over $230 million in recent years. Uganda’s major exports to Saudi Arabia include agricultural products such as coffee, tea, and flowers, as well as minerals and other natural resources.
  • “The direct flight service between Riyadh and Entebbe will make it much easier for Ugandan businesses to access the Saudi market,” said Luggya. “This enhanced connectivity is expected to facilitate trade, particularly in Uganda’s export sectors, including coffee, flowers, and fresh produce. We are also optimistic that it will lead to new investment opportunities between our two countries, further strengthening our economic ties.”

Flynas is one of the most profitable airlines in the Middle East, and reported a revenues surge of 46% for the first half of 2023 compared to the same period of the last year, as passenger numbers increased 26% to about 5 million passengers.

The success of flynas has been recognized with many international awards, including Skytrax International Award as the Best Low-cost Airline in the Middle East in 2023 for the sixth time in a row and the 4th Best LCC worldwide.

Through its ambitious National Civil Aviation Strategy, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has set its target at supporting its airlines to connect the country to 250 International destinations and to fly some 330 million passengers, including 150 million tourists annually by 2030.

Similar Posts You May Like 

  • DTB RELOCATES IT'S MASAKA BRANCH

    DTB RELOCATES IT'S MASAKA BRANCH ..

    The new outlet located on Sena House, on Elgin Street Masaka opposite Buddu FM, comes 13 years since the lender opened its doors in the city. DTB Managing Director, Thambi Varghese, said the move which coincided with International Customer Service Week, is meant to ease banking for customers. ..

  • UNLOCKING INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN THE LANGO REGION

    UNLOCKING INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN THE LANGO REGION..

    Gudie Leisure Farm (GLF) has dedicated the month of April for the Lango Region Spotlight. This is an initiative aimed at enlightening the country about the investment opportunities in Lango, generating support for young entrepreneurs within and from across Uganda that are already investing in it, ..

  • Local Firm to Spearhead Karuma Bridge Study

    Local Firm to Spearhead Karuma Bridge Study..

    The Government has enlisted a local engineering firm to spearhead a comprehensive inspection study of the structural integrity and longevity of the Karuma Dam bridge...

  • Importers decry low investment in railway

    Importers decry low investment in railway..

    Steel and poly pipes manufacturer Roofings Group is one of the largest importers of raw materials and exporters of finished products in Uganda. The steel giant imports thousands of tonnes of steel raw materials for processing into various steel products such as bars, rods, iron sheets, wire mesh, an..

  • Boda Boda Industry Riding Uganda's Economy

    Boda Boda Industry Riding Uganda's Economy..

    Mr. Freddie Ssewankambo wakes up before dawn daily. He dresses up quickly, takes a cup of tea then kick-starts his Bajaj Boxer motorcycle and sets off from Mukono to join the thousands of boda boda riders on the streets of Kampala City...

  • Aviation sector soars above pre-COVID numbers

    Aviation sector soars above pre-COVID numbers..

    Uganda’s aviation sector put up a resilient fight in 2023, registering a goodly comeback from the pandemic fall, which saw the global aviation industry bleed profusely. ..

  • Uganda Airlines starts flights to Zambia, Zimbabwe

    Uganda Airlines starts flights to Zambia, Zimbabwe ..

    Effective this September, Uganda Airlines will start flying to two more African countries, following the announcement of flights to Harare in Zimbabwe and Lusaka in Zambia, thus bringing the airline’s total routes to 16...

  • Cabinet clears Malaba-Kampala SGR project

    Cabinet clears Malaba-Kampala SGR project..

    The vision of a modern and efficient railway network in East Africa is edging closer to reality as Uganda moves closer to the reality of its own Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) line from Malaba to Kampala...

  • KK Security rebrands to GardaWorld Security

    KK Security rebrands to GardaWorld Security..

    KK Security has officially transitioned to GardaWorld Security in Uganda, marking a significant shift that promises to enhance employment opportunities throughout the region...

  • Watu asks for better conditions for boda-boda riders

    Watu asks for better conditions for boda-boda riders..

    Asset financiers, Watu Uganda, have called for a more balanced approach to managing the boda-boda industry amidst growing concerns over safety, pollution, and traffic congestion in the country. The company argues that while the boda-boda industry faces challenges, it remains pivotal to Uganda’s ec..

  • 10% of boda boda motorcycles now electric

    10% of boda boda motorcycles now electric..

    The adoption of electric motorcycles (EVs) in Uganda is gaining significant traction, particularly in the boda boda industry, which remains a vital source of livelihood for millions of Ugandans. ..

  • Ugandans give Kenya Ports Authority nod of approval

    Ugandans give Kenya Ports Authority nod of approval..

    The majority of Ugandan users of the Mombasa Port in Kenya are happy with the progress the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) has made in making the clearance of cargo more efficient over the past years...

  • Uganda’s SGR project given to Turkish company

    Uganda’s SGR project given to Turkish company..

    The Government of Uganda is set to officially hand over the construction of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) project to a Turkish company, following the signing of the $3 billion contract...

Most Recent

Popular Links