Uganda Airlines Bolsters Capacity

Uganda Airlines is enhancing its operational capacity with the addition of an Airbus A320 (MSN 6733) acquired on a short-term wet lease from Danish Air Transport (DAT), a Lithuanian carrier based in Karmelava. The nine-year-old aircraft will temporarily join the airline’s fleet to address capacity challenges during its winter schedule, supplementing its existing four CRJ-900LR regional jets and two A330-800neo widebodies.

The A320-200, configured with 12 business-class and 144 economy-class seats, comes with its crew, maintenance, and insurance under the ACMI (Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance, and Insurance) lease. Uganda Airlines CEO, Ms. Jenifer Bamuturaki, expressed optimism about the aircraft’s role in bolstering performance during the high-demand festive season.

“This partnership with DAT allows us to maintain schedule integrity, particularly as part of our fleet undergoes routine maintenance,” Ms. Bamuturaki said. “The increased capacity will resolve operational bottlenecks on routes like Johannesburg and Kinshasa, where our CRJs have struggled with volume and weight limitations, and will augment services to Nairobi, Lagos, and Abuja.”

Regulatory Compliance and Future Plans

Uganda’s regulations limit ACMI leases to six months, prompting the airline to carefully manage these short-term arrangements. This move follows the end of a previous lease involving Global Aviation, the parent company of Lift Airlines based in Johannesburg, South Africa,  A320 aircraft  (MSN 53) whose lease ended last month, in accordance with the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) regulations, and served a similar role.

During the 56th Annual General Assembly of the African Airlines Association (AFRAA) in Cairo (from November to November 19), Egypt Ms. Bamuturaki unveiled Uganda Airlines’ strategic plans for fleet expansion. The carrier intends to introduce two Airbus A320neos on dry lease starting in June 2025 while placing an order for four additional A320neos and two Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners for delivery between 2029 and 2030.

Strengthening Entebbe as a Regional Hub

The airline continues to pursue its vision of positioning Entebbe as a key hub for connecting Africa and beyond. Recent expansions have included securing foreign operator permits for destinations such as Jeddah, Riyadh, Lusaka, and Harare.

“We are committed to expanding our network and enhancing Uganda’s tourism and business connectivity,” Ms. Bamuturaki added.

Despite its growth aspirations, Uganda Airlines remains under scrutiny due to recurring losses. Earlier this year, the Parliamentary Budget Committee approved an additional UGX 34.9 billion ($9.2 million) for the airline, raising questions about its financial sustainability. The airline, however, argues that continued investment is necessary to scale its operations and achieve profitability.

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Victor Shalton

Victor Shalton's love for aviation can be traced to when he was 11-years-old. As a seasoned aviation writer, he takes pride in providing the best aviation coverage around the globe and is passionate about advancing his skills in the aviation space. In addition, he loves travelling, writing, arts and while his speaking engagements have taken him around the world, he is proud to call Nairobi home.

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