June's AviaDev Connectivity Update with Sean Mendis and Behramjee Ghadially

Um, so with that said, let us start with the biggest check written in African aviation this month, um, signed in Entebbe, although perhaps we're a little premature in that the, the check isn't signed, Sean.

So talk to us about Uganda Airlines.

It was obviously the reason that our event patron, Ato Girma, couldn't be with us in person at the event.

He was busy, and we also wanted to wish him a very happy birthday for yesterday, didn't we?

Yep.

So yeah, over to you.

Happy birthday, Ato Girma.

I, uh, I was gonna lead off with that.

Happy birthday to Ato Girma, he turned 83 yesterday.

I caught up with him.

I did-- he didn't make it to Aviadev, but I caught up with him in, uh, Lomé at the AFCAC event a few days later.

You know, he's going as strong as ever, so, uh, you know, I think this is hopefully his last Boeing order, but, uh, you never know.

But yes, uh, Uganda Airlines effectively has signed a memorandum of understanding with Boeing.

Uh, neither has put out specifics of the deal publicly, although there is a lukewarm press release that is floating around, and a big thanks to Shakila for forwarding it to me, because I would not have found it otherwise.

Um, but yeah, they have signed an agreement for eight aircraft direct from Boeing, as well as two freighters from the secondary market.

Um, the details as per sources close to it, uh, it will be that that eight aircraft is gonna be four wide-bodies, presumably 787s, and four narrow bodies, presumably 737 maxes.

Specifics of delivery dates, times, what this means with regards to the return of the A330s or scrapping of the A330s, or conversion of the A330s into very expensive paperweights, uh, is still undetermined.

Uh, in fact, the details of how this involves the A330s probably never will be publicly revealed.

Um, my understanding is that the formal check -- it's not even the check, the formal-

Ah

... signature for the official order will be appended at the Farnborough Airspace and, um- Yeah, I think, uh, that's pretty much all that there is officially for it.

Uh, we, we await the official details, but, uh, you know, in...

I've, I've, I've always said that the only way that Uganda Airlines can be saved is by tearing it down and building it back up again from scratch, and this seems to be the building it up back again from scratch before it has been torn down.

But knowing Girma, I am going to make the assumption that there is a tear it back down, which is an exit strategy for the A330s before the buildup begins.

So fingers crossed that is what it entails, and if so, I'm not gonna say it's gonna be successful, but this is probably the only chance they have of being successful, because as it currently stands, it is effectively a failed airline.

Um, so with that said, let us start with the biggest check written in African aviation this month, um, signed in Entebbe, although perhaps we're a little premature in that the, the check isn't signed, Sean.

So talk to us about Uganda Airlines.

It was obviously the reason that our event patron, Ato Girma, couldn't be with us in person at the event.

He was busy, and we also wanted to wish him a very happy birthday for yesterday, didn't we?

Yep.

So yeah, over to you.

Happy birthday, Ato Girma.

I, uh, I was gonna lead off with that.

Happy birthday to Ato Girma, he turned 83 yesterday.

I caught up with him.

I did-- he didn't make it to Aviadev, but I caught up with him in, uh, Lomé at the AFCAC event a few days later.

You know, he's going as strong as ever, so, uh, you know, I think this is hopefully his last Boeing order, but, uh, you never know.

But yes, uh, Uganda Airlines effectively has signed a memorandum of understanding with Boeing.

Uh, neither has put out specifics of the deal publicly, although there is a lukewarm press release that is floating around, and a big thanks to Shakila for forwarding it to me, because I would not have found it otherwise.

Um, but yeah, they have signed an agreement for eight aircraft direct from Boeing, as well as two freighters from the secondary market.

Um, the details as per sources close to it, uh, it will be that that eight aircraft is gonna be four wide-bodies, presumably 787s, and four narrow bodies, presumably 737 maxes.

Specifics of delivery dates, times, what this means with regards to the return of the A330s or scrapping of the A330s, or conversion of the A330s into very expensive paperweights, uh, is still undetermined.

Uh, in fact, the details of how this involves the A330s probably never will be publicly revealed.

Um, my understanding is that the formal check -- it's not even the check, the formal-

Ah

... signature for the official order will be appended at the Farnborough Airspace and, um- Yeah, I think, uh, that's pretty much all that there is officially for it.

Uh, we, we await the official details, but, uh, you know, in...

I've, I've, I've always said that the only way that Uganda Airlines can be saved is by tearing it down and building it back up again from scratch, and this seems to be the building it up back again from scratch before it has been torn down.

But knowing Girma, I am going to make the assumption that there is a tear it back down, which is an exit strategy for the A330s before the buildup begins.

So fingers crossed that is what it entails, and if so, I'm not gonna say it's gonna be successful, but this is probably the only chance they have of being successful, because as it currently stands, it is effectively a failed airline.