Uganda Airlines is suspending flights to regional destinations in countries affected by the coronavirus outbreak, according to sources.
The recently revived national carrier will over the next few days suspend flights to Nairobi and Mombasa in Kenya, Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar in Tanzania, and Mogadishu in Somalia “until further notice,” an official told Uganda Business News on Wednesday.
The decision follows the confirmation of positive cases of the Covid-19 coronavirus in Kenya, Tanzania, and Somalia. Authorities in Kenya have confirmed seven cases, while Tanzania and Somalia have three and once confirmed case, respectively.
It also comes two days after Jambojet, the Kenyan low-cost carrier, announced that it is suspending flights to Entebbe and Kigali in Rwanda in response to a drop in demand resulting from the spread of the coronavirus. But, Jambojet said it will continue operating flights to local destinations in Kenya.
Uganda Airlines currently operates daily flights to Nairobi, Dar es Salaam, and Juba. It also operates flights every other day to Mombasa, Kilimanjaro, Zanzibar, Mogadishu, and Bujumbura.
This website understands said the measures will be officially announced after a national address by President Yoweri Museveni later today on the coronavirus outbreak. Uganda is yet to report a positive case of the coronavirus. However, all neighbouring countries, excluding South Sudan, have announced confirmed cases.