New Uganda airline plans to grow freight

JOY ORLEK DECEMBER 3 will see the launch of a new service between Entebbe and Johannesburg operated by newly-established Victoria International Airways (VIA Uganda). Funded by South African, Swiss and Ugandan interests, the airline will operate two B737-200s on the route three times a week on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. Heading up the airline is well-known industry personality Mike Myburgh, a former SAA CEO. While the initial focus is passenger traffic, Myburgh has not ruled out the possibility of a stronger freight orientation in the future. “The 737-200 belly space limits us to around 300 kg of freight, so although we have a freight licence and would have a freight agent here, we are only looking at mail and courier cargo at present. “But that doesn’t mean that in future we won’t increase capacity. “There is certainly a cargo need on the route – not for a freighter per se because of the one-directional nature of the traffic – but a passenger aircraft that has greater belly-hold capacity is an attractive proposition. And we are certainly looking at this.”