Northern Corridor states push for cheaper flights, better air navigation

June 26, 2025 in Infrastructure, Transport, Travel & Tourism by Editor

Uganda and other member states of the Northern Corridor Integration Projects (NCIP) have agreed on a set of measures aimed at reducing airfares and modernising air navigation systems. The resolution came at the end of the 11th Heads of Civil Aviation Authorities Meeting held  earlier this week in Kigali, Rwanda.

The Ugandan delegation, led by NCIP National Coordinator Ambassador Richard Kabonero, included Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) Director General Fred Bamwesigye and other technical officials.

The meeting, attended by aviation leaders from NCIP partner states, focused on enhancing regional air connectivity, improving safety oversight, and aligning with continental air transport goals.

Among the key resolutions was the implementation of immediate airfare reduction mechanisms. Partner states agreed to operationalise fifth freedom traffic rights, enabling airlines to operate more competitive regional routes. They also endorsed the pursuit of codeshare and interline agreements among regional airlines to expand affordable flight options.

In addition, regional legislation is expected by June 2026 to regulate travel agents and protect passengers from exploitative pricing practices.

The meeting also addressed the need for harmonisation of aviation-related fees. Uganda committed to join a regional stakeholder summit scheduled for December 2025 to discuss the alignment of passenger service charges and air navigation fees.

On the continental front, the meeting reaffirmed commitment to accelerate accession to the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM), with a target of full implementation by December 2026. SAATM is expected to open up access to over 35 African destinations for Ugandan and regional carriers.

In the area of airspace modernisation, the states agreed to enhance cooperation through the launch of a Distributed Aeronautical Database. This real-time data hub will link Entebbe Area Control Centre with Nairobi, Kigali, and Juba, improving coordination and operational efficiency. Additional agreements were reached on improved radar surveillance and a civil-military coordination framework to optimise national airspace use. The latter awaits ratification by Kenya.

A regional joint accident investigation mechanism was also activated, aiming to pool resources for faster and more comprehensive responses to aviation incidents.

Ambassador Kabonero welcomed the outcomes, stating that the resolutions translate regional cooperation into practical benefits for Ugandan travellers and airlines, including lower fares, better route connectivity, and safer skies. He urged Uganda Airlines to prioritise the Entebbe-Kigali route as part of efforts to implement the discussed initiatives and strengthen Entebbe’s positioning as a regional hub.