Summary

  • Uganda Airlines plans to double its fleet and triple the number of destinations over the next five years.
  • The airline is considering acquiring new widebody aircraft for long-haul operations and has issued an RFP for up to four Airbus A320neos.
  • Uganda Airlines will launch flights to London Gatwick by the end of the year and plans to add more international destinations, including China, Frankfurt, and possibly the US.

Uganda Airlines, the national carrier of the Republic of Uganda, is looking to expand its international operations over the next five years by doubling its fleet and number of destinations. Additionally, the airline confirmed that it will launch flights to London Gatwick by the end of the year, having secured slots at the South London airport.

Doubling the fleet in five years

Just nearly five years after it commenced operations, Uganda Airlines currently has a fleet of six aircraft, comprising four CRJ900LRs and two Airbus A330-800neos. The airline also operates an Airbus A320-200 wet-leased from South Africa’s Global Airways.

Uganda Airlines A320-1

Photo: Uganda Airlines

Speaking to Simple Flying at AviaDev Africa in Namibia, Uganda Airlines Chief Commercial Officer Adedayo Olawuyi said that it is critical for the airline to have at least 12 aircraft to survive. Furthermore, the carrier is looking to leverage its network and take advantage of the growth opportunities it sees in Africa. As such, it will double its fleet and possibly triple the number of destinations served over the next five years. Adedayo Olawuyi said,

“Critically, for airlines to survive, we need to get to the critical mass where you get to run the economies of scale. From research, we need to have between 12 and 15 aircraft to get to the level of economies of scale. We are trying to get to that point and leverage the network we are trying to build. In the next five years, we intend to have at least 12 to 13 aircraft, double our current fleet. Today, we operate to 13 destinations from Entebbe, but we are hoping by then we can double or triple that as well.”

Uganda Airlines wet-leased the A320 to deploy it on regional routes where it faces payload restrictions with the CRJ900. The airline wants to incorporate single-aisle aircraft into its fleet for long-term operations. According to Olawuyi, Uganda Airlines has issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) for up to four Airbus A320neos after receiving approval from the government.

However, the earliest the airline can receive brand new A320neos is 2031, so it has approached lessors to lease the aircraft until it receives its own. With the lessors having orders in place, the airline could get the aircraft much earlier with its preferred cabin configurations and colors. Uganda Airlines is also considering a finance lease, allowing it to own the aircraft at the end of the agreement.

Related

Uganda Airlines Hopes To Launch Airbus A330-800neo Service Between Entebbe & London By The End Of The Year

The carrier has set another new date for its launch of the new service.

The airline is also looking to acquire new widebody aircraft for long-haul operations. About two months ago, a team from Boeing visited Uganda’s President and reportedly struck a deal for two Boeing 777 Freighters and 787 Dreamliners. Olawuyi confirmed that the airline is going through with the 787 deal and has been meeting with the manufacturer.

Flights to London Gatwick Airport

For many years, Uganda Airlines has been planning to fly to London but has faced delays due to the ICAO safety audits that had to be conducted in Uganda. With the country having passed the audits, the national carrier is set to fly to London by the end of the year.

Uganda Airlines Airbus A330neo

Photo: Airbus

However, without slots at Heathrow, the airline will fly directly from Entebbe Airport to London Gatwick (LGW). It had also considered serving Stansted as an alternative to Heathrow. The service is expected to commence by the end of 2024, but there is no set date.

Adding more international destinations

Uganda Airlines currently flies to two intercontinental destinations: Dubai and Mumbai. Adding more widebodies will allow the airline to expand its operations outside Africa. The carrier plans to fly to China next year and add Frankfurt and possibly US destinations to its network. Adedayo Olawuyi said,

“The widebodies are needed for international and transatlantic routes. We are planning to start flights to China next year. We also plan to add Frankfurt in Europe and see if we can go across the Atlantic to the US. This expansion would require a widebody like the 787, which is why we have chosen this aircraft.”

A Boeing 787 Dreamliner

Photo: Ryan Fletcher | Shutterstock

Uganda Airlines currently deploys its wet-leased A320 to Lagos, Nairobi, and Kinshasa, allowing it to add more frequencies on certain routes. The Entebbe-based carrier is also looking to fly the A320 to Johannesburg, as the CRJ cannot take full capacity due to the distance between the two destinations. However, it is still awaiting approval from the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) to fly the aircraft to South Africa.

What do you think of Uganda Airlines’ fleet expansion plans? Please share your thoughts in the comments!

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