Although cargo traffic at the airport slightly increased from 62,093 tonnes in FY 2017/18 to 62,127 tonnes in 2018/19 against the target of 64,352 tonnes, there is likely to be a significant reduction following the pandemic. Entebbe Airport after a presidential directive to close Uganda’s airspace to passengers. Experts say this will also impact on cargo traffic TRAFFIC | COVID-19
Air traffic cargo from Entebbe Airport to Europe and other countries in the world has been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Although cargo traffic at the airport slightly increased from 62,093 tonnes in FY 2017/18 to 62,127 tonnes in 2018/19 against the target of 64,352 tonnes, there is likely to be a significant reduction following the pandemic.
The director-general of Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), Dr. David Kakuba, told the New Vision last week that there was a visible reduction in the volume of exports through Entebbe Airport.
Kakuba said the cargo planes are allowed to bring in goods, but only a certain number of crew are allowed in.
“Countries such as Italy are under lockdown, so the export businesses are impacted,” Kakuba said.
He added that emergency flights are allowed to bring in cargo and that organisations like the World Health Organisation (WHO) can charter flights to bring in equipment.
CAA public affairs manager Vianney Luggya said the impact of the pandemic is likely to affect not only the exports but also imports.
He said some airlines carry cargo as belly cargo on passenger flights.
“At the moment it is only the freighters (cargo planes) that will be allowed in and out.
The major carriers which operate freighter services include Qatar Cargo, Turkish Airlines, Ethiopian Airlines (ad hoc), Kenya Airways (ad hoc) and Allied Air (AJK). South African Airlines has also been handling some cargo in the East African region,” Luggya said.According to the works and transport minister, Joint Sector Review Report of 2019/20, exports by air missed the target by 20.1% due to high market competition, with fresh produce coming in from the far east countries, such as Philippines and Indonesia that have flooded UAE market with improved quality of products.The report said imports continued to fall due to the suspension of World Food Programme operations in West Nile and eastern Uganda in the provision of relief to the affected communities.An official from Fresh Handling Limited, which specialises in handling exports of cut flowers and horticultural products from Uganda, said they had closed office temporarily. “We […]
