Liberian Vice President, Dr. Jewel Howard-Taylor has requested the Ugandan government to establish a direct air connection between the two countries via the national carrier, Uganda Airlines. The request was made during Dr. Howard-Taylor’s recent state visit to Uganda in which both parties sought to action areas of mutual interest and joint cooperation.
Liberia’s lack of efficient air links highlights Africa’s broader issue of intra connectivity. A trip between the Liberian capital, Monrovia and Uganda’s hub at Entebbe would require multiple connections and in some cases, travel from Liberia to another African country involves connecting via a European hub.
“We trust one day, sooner than later, they (Ugandan Airlines) will have a few outings to Monrovia. Regardless of whether it is once in seven days, we would cherish that since now you go from Monrovia to Accra and from Accra to Nairobi and from Nairobi to Uganda so it requires very nearly 24 hours to get from one brief distance that could most likely be five hours of such an excursion. So we are trusting that that will help us better connection individuals to individuals,” said the Vice President
The establishment of a Single African Air Transport Market(SAATM) which will deregulate and liberalize air transport services in Africa is widely viewed as a solution to Africa’s low connectivity index, an enabler for the newly established African Continental Free Trade Area and a driver for Africa’s economic integration
“Free trade is about people working together to build a better sustaining Africa. We need an easier way to get back and forth. So I want to make that my first request if it is possible to begin thinking about it.” Dr Howard-Taylor said
Liberia’s National airline ceased operations in 1990, over 30 years ago. However in 2020, the government of Liberia signed a partnership agreement with Lonestar Air of Ghana to revive the national carrier
