Airline industry top guns dust-off passports for Uganda hosted 55th AFRAA annual meet

November 13, 2023 in Business, Companies, Transport, Travel & Tourism by Editor

The 55^th edition of the African Airlines Annual General Assembly is bound to be one of the most subscribed, with 82pc of the expected 500 delegates having confirmed their attendance. The event, hosted by Uganda Airlines is set to take place from November 19-21 at Speke Resort Munyonyo in Kampala.

Speaking during a sponsors appreciation breakfast at the Four Points by Sheraton on November 10, Uganda Airlines chief executive Jenifer Bamuturaki said 409 delegates had already confirmed their attendance, a remarkable show of faith amidst recent travel advisories by western governments. She also outlined the agenda of the AGM to representatives of domestic sponsors who spanned the financial, hospitality and fin-tech industries.

In addition to international regulators and industry associations, the chief executives of some 40 airlines had confirmed attendance, revealed Ms Bamuturaki who is also the current President of AFRAA.

Bamuturaki said delegates would tackle hot-button issues such as the volatile operational environment, the urgency of sustainable operations, high operating costs, as well as closed skies that are imposing considerable drag on the industry’s potential within Africa.

“As an industry, we face many challenges which require common action. We shall be discussing some of these challenges and explore ways of jointly tackling them. This not only helps to reduce the burden on individual airlines but coordinated efforts often yield higher impacts and benefits for the communities and mother earth,” Bamuturaki told 256BN.

Uganda Airlines will also use the occasion to showcase her sustainability initiative, which seeks to reduce to reduce aircraft emissions, by mitigating the bird hazard along the approach and departure paths to Entebbe International Airport.

The assembly which will be attended by aircraft manufacturers and technology vendors,  will feature an exhibition showcasing products, solutions, and the latest technologies in aviation from around the world.