Entebbe International Airport (EBB), is the international airport of Uganda. Throughout the course of 2020, a total of 565, 666 passengers passed through the gates of Entebbe International Airport.
The operation of the airport was unprecedented due to the COVID-19 pandemic, in particular the related restrictions on travel and the worldwide decline in demand for foreign travel
According to Daily Monitor, whereas there has been a slight decline in passenger arrivals, handled cargo at Entebbe International Airport has been growing since the January 2021.
Daily arrivals through Entebbe International Airport have declined by about 7,987 passengers, eroding recovery that had been recorded since the beginning of 2021.
According to details obtained from Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA), during May at least 77,063 passengers transited through Uganda’s only international airport, which indicated a 10.3 per cent drop from April’s 85,050 passengers.
Uganda Civil Aviation Authority further indicated that during May, daily passenger numbers had dropped, averaging at 2,485 per day from 2,835 and 2,693 in April and March, respectively.
The drop comes at a time when Covid-19 cases have surged with some countries issuing travel advisories for passengers seeking travel to Uganda.
Read about COVID-19 Guidelines for air travellers at Entebbe international airport, Uganda
Uganda Civil Aviation Authority also indicated that 1.98 million passengers had transitioned through Entebbe International Airport in 2019 but the number had in 2020 dropped to 565, 666.
The drop, Mr. Vianney Luggya, the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority manager public affairs, said was partly due to Covid-19, which forced government to close the airport for more than five months.
Tourism, which is one of Uganda’s largest foreign exchange earners largely, depends on international tourist arrivals.
Therefore, the drop is expected to impact the tourism sector, which has been seeking to recover from last year’s March-June lockdown.
Mr Luggya noted that the numbers are likely to drop further unless there is a change to the current surge in Covid-19 cases that have been rising since last month.
Travel has also been made difficult by new requirements, with a number of countries requiring passengers to conduct a PCR test before boarding the airplane and sometimes entering the destination country.
According to the Uganda Ministry of Health, a PCR test costs USD 65 in Uganda.
Already, Uganda Government has banned travel from some countries including India while it has put it as a requirement for any passenger from United Kingdom, Ethiopia, Kenya, South Africa, South Sudan, Tanzania, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and US to conduct a PCR test on arrival or possess a certificate of proof of full Covid-19 vaccination and show no Covid-19 symptoms.
“Travellers have the option of waiting at the testing site for their results or checking into a designated hotel at their own expense,” the Ministry of Health, said in a recent statement.
Arrival Passenger vs cargo through Entebbe Airport
On the other hand, cargo arrivals grew in volume with Uganda Civil Aviation Authority indicating that 5,329 tonnes were handled through Entebbe International Airport in May compared to 3,992 tonnes in the same period last year.
During April, a total of 5,725 tonnes were handled compared to 5,977 tonnes in March. 4,766 tonnes and 4,911 tonnes were handled in February and January, respectively.
On an annual basis, handled cargo grew from 42,000 tonnes in 2019 to 58,000 tonnes in 2020, much of which, according to Uganda Civil Aviation Authority was comprised of agricultural exports such as fruits and vegetables, flowers, fish and fish products, among others.
Read about Entebbe Airport expands departures terminal
ABOUT ENTEBBE AIRPORT
Entebbe Airport also known as Entebbe International Airport is the principal international airport of Uganda. The airport is located about 6 kilometres southwest of the town of Entebbe, on the northern shores of Lake Victoria.
It is 40 kilometers South West of Kampala, the capital and largest city in Uganda. Travelling between Entebbe Airport and the capital Kampala can take upto 60 minutes depending on the traffic. Visitors can choose from a range vehicles for pick up and drop at different locations in Kampala and Entebbe,
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