Uganda Airlines is planning to start its own ground handling services in the 1st quarter of 2022, reports have indicated.

According to Jennifer Bamuturaki, the acting chief executive officer, the ground handling plan is now only awaiting a concession agreement from the aviation regulator Uganda Civil Aviation Authority.

“The Airline is set to roll out its self-handling project by the first quarter of this year. This will involve passenger baggage and cargo handling, maintenance, security and general ground operations,” adding that so far, they have procured the equipment, recruited and trained their own staff who have been licensed.

These come at a time when Uganda Airlines has begun the evaluation process by the United Kingdom CAA and the European Aviation Safety Agency to operate in the United Kingdom and Europe.

The airline had previously planned to inaugurate its maiden flight to the UK which later stalled in the evaluation process.

As Uganda’s national carrier is moving closer to launching its European services, it intends to conduct the operations using its low-cost aircraft A330neo.

If approved, the airline will give tougher competition to Eastern Africa carriers like Ethiopian Airlines and Kenya airways who have already established their European presence.