While Uganda Airlines is still marketing its new route to Johannesburg, the airline has yet to confirm a launch date.

The airline recently tweeted earlier this month that the direct flight from Entebbe to South Africa would be coming soon.

This followed a statement last year from the airline that it would launch flights on December 10 as  part of its expansion plans, which included flights to Nairobi, Bujumbura, Dar es Salaam, Juba, and Mogadishu.

Since the earlier announcement, the airline issued a short statement to say that the launch flight had been delayed. To date – despite several attempts for comment from Uganda Airlines – a commencement date has yet to be announced.

Tourism Update has received confirmation from Assistant Director of Bilateral Affairs at the Air Transport Directorate, Bella Makhale, that the Department of Transport had received a designation for the airline last week. “Uganda Airlines has requested a meeting with us. The framework for the air services agreement for route is already in place,” she said.

“Uganda Airlines still needs to finalise its application for its foreign operator permit, which could take about a month or more. At the moment, we are trying to schedule a meeting with our Ugandan counterparts as soon as possible,” said Makhale.

CEO of the Board of Airline Representatives SA, June Crawford, said she hoped Uganda would shortly announce the commencement date. “Connectivity in Africa is high on the tourism and aviation agenda.  We welcome the introduction of flights between places that currently have no flights.”