Uganda Airlines Bombadier jetliners welcomed home in style
At exactly 9 am on Tuesday, two Uganda Airlines Bombadier CRJ900 jets touched down at Entebbe International Airport marking the revival of the national airline after 20 years.
The planes that left Montreal Canada last week and had two stopovers at the Maastricht Airport in Netherlands and Reykjavik, the capital of Iceland and connected to Cairo finally landed on Ugandan soil to a warm reception.
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Upon landing at Entebbe, the two bombadiers then taxed to the old airport always used by VIPs before receiving a water salute, which occurs for ceremonial purposes.
A water salute is a touching airport tradition to honour military events, new airline service, anniversaries, noteworthy events at the airport, last schedule of an airplane to that airport, and foreign dignitaries.
At the old airport where the function was, the excitement was palpable among government officials and journalists present as the long-awaited dream of a national carrier that had been for years in the making came true.
In the background, a religious song ‘this is the day that the Lord has made’ played.
The occasion signaled the official revival of Uganda’s national carrier, which had been grounded in 2001.
The two Bombadiers number 5X Kob and 5X Equator then finally made a stop to welcoming ululations from government officials.
President Museveni and the First Lady Janet Museveni on behalf of other Ugandans were asked to inspect the new aircraft.
“Only a few people are going on behalf of other Ugandans to inspect the new planes,” the MC on the microphone announced.
Museveni later took to the stairs and later to the plane and was later seen exchanging pleasantries with the pilots of the air crafts.
He never forgot his signature goodbye as he stood on the stairs of the air craft.
Television stations were some of the biggest beneficiaries on the day as they relayed the events at the airport live for their viewers.
Over 10 different television station reporters could be seen making commentary in a bid to keep their viewers updated with what was taking place.
Journalists and other government officials took turns as they took photos and selfies in a bid to record the once in a lifetime history making event.
Cabinet ministers did not miss out on the excitement.
They entered the new planes and one of them was Ronald Kibuule who was seen waving to the crowd as he entered the plane.
The excitement did not leave out one of the presidential chopper pilots as he took turns in taking photos with the chief pilot of the Uganda Airlines.
“He was in my intake mate at Soroti flying school. I want to take a photo with him,” said the unidentified VIP pilot who said he went to the flying school between 1993 and 1997.
As the function came to an end, there was chaos as people struggled to catch a glimpse of the interior of the plane.
The Uganda National Airlines Company will operate four CRJ900 Bombardier jetliners in dual-class configuration with 76 economy seats and 12 first class seats.
The new CRJ-series atmosphere cabin owned by Uganda are the first to be owned by an airline in Africa.