After many months of deliberations, Uganda Airlines has finally announced the commencement of a new scheduled route between the country’s capital city of Entebbe and London. Commencing on May 18, 2025, the flights will operate four times weekly in each direction on the 3,479 nautical miles (6,443 km) route and will be operated by the carrier’s ultra-rare Airbus A330-800neo fleet, of which the carrier has two.

The airline had made it known previously that it wished to fly to London-Heathrow Airport (LHR), primarily due to the availability of connecting traffic at the London hub. However, following the announcement of the commencement of services made on March 20, 2025, the airline will instead serve London’s second-largest airport at London-Gatwick (LGW) from Entebbe International Airport (EBB). It is believed that slot constraints at Heathrow combined with lower costs at Gatwick were the driving factors behind this decision.

The new service will represent the first time that Uganda has enjoyed direct non-stop services to the UK since the cessation of services by British Airways back in November 2015. The new flights are expected to operate according to the schedule detailed below, and although the scattering of timings may not be ideal from a passenger perspective, the airline has decided that an awkward schedule from Gatwick is better than no schedule at all from Heathrow.

Uganda Airlines
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Flights will depart Entebbe as (UR110) at 00:05 on Tuesdays, 00:25 on Wednesdays, 03:10 on Fridays, and 09:25 on Sundays, arriving at Gatwick at 07:35, 07:55, 10:40, and 16:55 on the same day respectively. The return flights (UR111) are due to leave Gatwick at 09:40 on Tuesdays,09:50 on Wednesdays, 12:40 on Fridays, and 19:05 on Sundays, arriving in Entebbe at 21:10, 21:20, 00:10 (+1), and 06:35 (+1) respectively.

Chief executive Jenifer Bamuturaki detailed the new service during an event on 20 March 2025 in Entebbe. “The Crane will be flapping its wings into the United Kingdom, and this means connectivity and opportunities for Uganda,” she said. “This route marks the end of our establishment phase and sets us on a course for long-term growth and expansion. It follows meticulous planning, preparations, and many setbacks. But finally, we are here.”

She added that the carrier, which commenced operations in 2019, had originally sought London slots in 2020 before the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the plan. Bamuturaki also said that the Airbus A330-800 will also support cargo operations and added that the carrier is planning to enhance its cargo operation with a freighter “later this year” as the carrier seeks to fully embrace the opportunities that the belly-hold cargo capacity of the  A330-800 provides.

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