Uganda Airlines, officially known as Uganda National Airlines Company, is Uganda’s national carrier. It is a revival of the former Uganda Airlines, which operated between 1977 and 2001. The current airline was established on January 30th, 2018, and began its commercial operations on August 28, 2019.
It continues to strengthen its presence across Africa and beyond, with current operations connecting to major regional hubs such as Nairobi, Mombasa, and Dar es Salaam. Internationally, the carrier serves destinations including Dubai, Lusaka, Mumbai, and Mogadishu.
The Civil Aviation Authority data shows Entebbe International Airport is now connected to 33 airports in 20 countries, up from just nine before Uganda Airlines’ entry. The airline’s operations began with a daily service to Nairobi and quickly expanded to Dar es Salaam, Kilimanjaro, Juba, Mogadishu, and Bujumbura before the pandemic paused global travel.
During the COVID-19 crisis, Uganda Airlines played a key role in repatriating stranded Ugandans across Africa. As restrictions eased, the airline resumed expanding its network, adding Johannesburg, Kinshasa, Dubai, Mombasa, and Zanzibar. Recent additions include Lagos and Mumbai, marking Uganda’s first direct flights to West Africa and India.
The airline has also increased its flight frequency, offering daily services to Johannesburg, 20 weekly flights to Nairobi, nine times to Juba, and six times to Kinshasa and Bujumbura five times. This growth has helped the airline surpass one million passengers over five years, with revenue and traffic on the rise.
In this month of September, 2024, Uganda Airlines is operating a fleet of six aircraft, consisting of two Airbuses A330-800s and four Bombardier CRJ-900ERs. Additionally, the airline leases an Airbus A320 from Global Airways to enhance its operational capacity.
Uganda Airlines, which currently services 16 key African destinations such as Nairobi, Kenya; Mogadishu, Somalia; Juba, South Sudan; and Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania, is set to extend its network to the Middle East. Flights to Abu Dhabi are slated to launch soon, with Uganda Airlines actively coordinating with the UAE Civil Aviation Authority to complete the final regulatory steps. This development marks yet another milestone in the airline’s ambitious growth strategy. And It has been approved to fly to the United Arab Emirates. The imminent addition of Abu Dhabi to Uganda Airlines’ flight schedule will further expand its travel options for passengers, providing enhanced connectivity to the Middle East and other global destinations.
The national carrier is actively exploring new opportunities to enhance connectivity, with a scheduled meeting between its top management and Etihad Airways executives to discuss the potential of a codeshare agreement. This strategic partnership would allow both airlines to extend their regional and global reach, offering passengers more seamless travel options and increased convenience. The move is part of Uganda Airlines’ broader plan to strengthen its international presence and provide competitive services across key markets. This expansion will not only increase capacity but also provide passengers with a more modern and comfortable travel experience.
Looking ahead, Uganda Airlines is planning to launch new routes to Accra, Riyadh, and the UK within the next six months.