On the crisp morning of August 28, 2019, a new chapter in Uganda’s aviation history began as Uganda Airlines embarked on its first commercial journey from Entebbe International Airport to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi.
With just eight passengers onboard, the national carrier’s debut flight symbolized a fresh start for an airline that would soon stretch the crane’s wings far beyond the Pearl of Africa.
Fast forward to today, and Uganda Airlines is not only celebrating five years of successful operations but also marking this milestone with the exciting launch of three new routes: Abuja, Lusaka, and Harare. This latest expansion reflects the airline’s ambitious vision to broaden its network and solidify its presence on the African continent.
“Our service to Abuja will commence on September 12, 2024, followed by flights to Lusaka and Harare on September 25, 2024,” announced Jennifer Bamuturaki, CEO of Uganda Airlines. “These new routes are part of our five-year anniversary celebrations and represent a significant step in our strategic growth plan.”
The Abuja route will be served by the flagship Airbus A330-800 aircraft, with flights scheduled every Sunday and Thursday. This service extends the airline’s existing operations to Lagos, which are available on Sunday, Monday, and Thursday.
The Lusaka and Harare routes will utilize the Bombardier CRJ-900 aircraft, offering flights four times a week on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday. This marks a notable expansion into Southern Africa, complementing the airline’s services to Johannesburg and other key cities.
These routes are more than mere geographic extensions. According to Bamuturaki, “Our entry into Abuja, Lusaka, and Harare is strategically designed to build a more efficient and optimized regional network. This will not only enhance our connectivity across Africa but also feed into and support our long-haul routes to London, India, Guangzhou, and Dubai.”
The launch for new routes marks the successful conclusion of the 3-year strategic plan, paving the way for the next phase of our 10-year rolling plan which aims to bridge geographical gaps and create a comprehensive network across East, West, North, and South Africa.
“This expansion is not just about adding new destinations,” Bamuturaki explains. “It’s about creating a robust regional network that supports our long-term vision of connecting Africa to Europe and Asia.”
This approach is backed by rigorous feasibility studies and a commitment to identifying and serving previously unfulfilled markets. “We are driven by a mission to make affordable air travel accessible for both business and leisure travelers,” Bamuturaki said. “Our goal is to lay the groundwork for the next phase of our growth, which will focus on expanding our footprint to Europe and Asia.”
Currently, Uganda Airlines operates 19 flights a day, accounting for 20% of the traffic at Entebbe Airport. With the new additions, Uganda Airlines’ route map now covers 16 destinations across Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.
The airline also has proven its resilience over the short time and has been honored with the World’s Youngest Aircraft Fleet Award by Ch-Aviation for five consecutive years: 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024.
