Uganda Airlines seeks A320 leases in 2025

This enables it free up larger Airbus A330-800s to operate its services to Abuja, Nigeria to better meet strong cargo demand on that route.

At present, the carrier is operating its two A330-800s on its Entebbe to Dubai and Mumbai services, but these would be partly replaced by smaller A320s if these can be brought in, said Jenifer Bamuturaki, CEO of Uganda Airlines, speaking on the sidelines of the African Airlines 56th Annual General Assembly.

Uganda Airlines is aiming to bring in two A320neos to complement its pair of A330s and four 76-seat CRJ900LRs in advance of a larger order for four new-build A320neos and two Boeing 787-9s, said Bamuturaki.

She noted that the state-owned carrier has selected the aircraft it will acquire and has handed over the contract finalisation and financing to the Ministry of Finance.

In terms of delivery “we wanted 2025-26 but it’s not possible,” said Bamuturaki. With the long OEM lead times the best Uganda Airlines can plan for new aircraft deliveries is 2029 or 2030, she said.

The carrier is also seeking to add a narrowbody all-cargo type plus a widebody freighter to its fleet over the coming few years.

Uganda Airlines has operated a A320ceo wet-leased from South Africa’s Global Aviation for six months, which ended on 30 October. This will be replaced by another A320 wet lease, with this beginning at the end of November as it awaits regulatory approval from the Ugandan authorities.

While its newly launched 2024 routes to from Entebbe to Abuja, Harare and Lusaka have been performing well, the carrier has suffered through a lack of capacity. “If we had the equipment we require then we will make our numbers,” said Bamuturaki, asked about achieving its traffic target for this year.

“Your equipment and being able to service all your routes at the time when you’ve planned for it makes your numbers. We have been delayed with our equipment and that has affected us,” she said.