In such times of cash challenges, business executives and ordinary passengers maintain that nearly 1.5 million shillings on return fares spent particularly those flying with Kenya Airways is straining their pockets. “Am one of the frequent fliers with Kenya Airways, but there is a perception within the Uganda community that the Entebbe Nairobi route tends to be the most expensive or one of the expensive routes in terms of flight and I think it will a good legacy for you if you change that perception.” Said, Patrick Ayota – Deputy Managing Director, NSSF.

But Kenya Airways Chairman Michael Joseph insisted that in spite the competition in the airline space, the company whose business is direct is not making profits. “You need to have a network before you can actually make money and some route makes money and some routes don’t make money. That’s not an excuse but that’s how it works. Our most profitable route is not Entebbe by the way; our most profitable route is Lagos-Nairobi. Why? Because all those Nigerians have no way to get to the Far East. So they fly over to Nairobi to reach it.” Said, Michael Joseph – Executive Chairman, Kenya Airways.

Many argue that price for a return ticket is not good in the spirit of the EAC. “I go from Amsterdam to Madrid for 2 ½ hours and I pay 70 dollars. And you fly for 55 minutes and pay the same amount. What advise do you give to Uganda because I would like Ugandans to know that for us to set up a national carrier there are many factors we must consider as a country.” Said, Amos Wekesa – Managing Director, Great Lakes Safaris. However, Kenya Airways remains in a haul that with the controlled allocation of routes now offered to independent airlines operating across the region’s capital. “Step point Uganda starting their own airline, Tanzania starting an airline and then all these others, it would be a scuffle for one national airline to serve East African Community.”