HABARI DAILY I Kampala, Uganda I “The wait is finally over,” reads one of the tweets on X, formerly Twitter.
The big news in Uganda’s aviation industry is that Uganda Airlines, the national carrier, is set to launch direct flights to London Gatwick soon.
Based at Entebbe International Airport, Uganda Airlines is Uganda’s national airline, and began flying again in 2019.
Its earlier tweets, Uganda Airlines revealed that the airline has already procured landing rights to enable it fly to one of the top most airports in the world, which is London Gatwick.
“Ticket sales will start as early as this summer,” further reads Uganda Airlines’ tweet.
It termed the move as a way of bolstering its reach to big global destinations.
“We are not only providing connectivity but also expanding opportunities for business, investment and leisure travel,” said Jeniffer Bamuturaki, the airlines Chief Executive Officer, referring to the moves as historical and calculative.
The UK Airport Updates also disclosed that Uganda Airlines now have London Gatwick on their booking system, and that the Entebbe-London Gatwick flights are coming soon.
When British Airways cancelled their flights to Entebbe Airport in 2015, a vacuum was created due to lack of direct flights to London.
Uganda Airlines, which was established to enhance connectivity and boost tourism, in 2019, has come in to bridge this gap.
Uganda Airlines is currently flying to16 destinations, after it announced new schedules last year.
Some of the new routes that have been added to its schedule include one to Abuja, Nigeria, Harare, Zimbabwe, and Lusaka, Zambia. These new routes have expanded the airline’s network to big global markets.
Bamuturaki with Anita Among, the Speaker of the Uganda Parliament
In September 2024, Uganda Airlines celebrated five years of spreading its wings across the East African region, India, West Africa and the United Arab Emirates.
Shakila Rahim Lamar, Uganda Airlines Head of Corporate Affairs and Public Relations said that recognised the potential of cargo services, and prioritised this segment, leading to an impressive 380% growth over the past year.
“This enabled us to transport over 9,233 tonnes of cargo. We have henceforth established cargo operations as a critical revenue stream,” she said.
Uganda Airlines has also increased its seat capacity and support passenger growth without the immediate financial burden of outright aircraft acquisition.
Cost management has been a focal point of the airline’s strategy. Uganda Airlines reviewed and renegotiated outdated contracts, streamlined staff wages and benefits, and introduced a self-handling project at Entebbe International Airport to reduce reliance on external providers.
Operating 20 daily flights across 16 routes, the airline has enhanced regional connectivity and reduced travel times.
Its operations account for 23.6% of Entebbe International Airport’s total traffic, while 90% of onboard consumables are sourced locally, supporting local industries, according to the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCCA) records.
