Serving the Pearl of Africa
Wildlife commentaries from the pilots and sweets passed round the cabin – AeroLink Uganda plays a quirky yet important role in connecting its home market, as Sebastian Schmitz discovers.
Dubbed “The Pearl of Africa” by none other than Winston Churchill, Uganda is undoubtedly one of the most stunning nations on the continent. The East African country boasts a diverse but breathtaking landscape, including the snowcapped Rwenzori Mountains and immense Lake Victoria, while the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is home to the famed mountain gorillas.
Neighbouring Kenya and Tanzania have been on the well-trodden tourist trail for decades and now relatively unspoilt Uganda is becoming increasing popular with visitors.
This, when combined with a generally poor road network, makes the country a fertile breeding ground for airlines that can offer swift regional connections for visitors and timeconscious locals.
Crossing Borders
One such carrier is AeroLink Uganda, launched in 2012 to serve this growing niche. The airline may be one of the country’s youngest, but it has a rich pedigree. Behind its creation was AirKenya Express, an independent Nairobi/Wilson-based firm with a long history of scheduled and charter services. The carrier – one of the last remaining operators of the venerable de Havilland Canada Dash 7 in the world – specialises in flying to and from small and basic airfields, catering to the needs of tourists while also providing essential air links to Kenya’s secondary markets.
Having developed a successful and thriving business, the carrier exported its model across the border to Tanzania in 1997 via a new subsidiary, Regional Air Services. The offshoot benefited greatly from close ties to its parent, drawing on its experience in the field as well as utilising its engineering and training facilities, and even leasing aircraft to cover planned maintenance downtime on its own fleet.
Buoyed by its Tanzanian venture, AirKenya turned its attention to other neighbouring markets and identified Uganda as a potential new base. At that time, the tourism industry was still relatively small, but while the nation was home to several charter operators, none offered scheduled services. Spotting an opportunity, AirKenya moved in, establishing AeroLink Uganda initially with a single Cessna 208 Caravan.