ENTEBBE.
It was all excitement Sunday as a Uganda Airlines aircraft touched down at London Gatwick on its inaugural flight to Europe.
The aircraft departed Entebbe International Airport at about 09:25am local time and arrived at Gatwick Airport at 4:55pm . The non-stop service will operate four times weekly , Sunday, Tuesday ,Wednesday and Friday with same return departures from London .
This new route is operated by Uganda Airline’s state-of-the-art Airbus A330-800neo,which offers long-haul comfort ,fuel efficiency and elevated passenger experience .
This route is in quick succession to the triple launch of Abuja, Lusaka, and Harare, which were launched in the second half of 2024 and are key points to feeding the hub in Entebbe.
The route is operated by Uganda Airlines’ state-of-the-art Airbus A330-800neo, offering long-haul comfort, fuel efficiency, and an elevated passenger experience.
Uganda Airlines CEO Jenifer Bamuturaki said the new route is going to connect Uganda to one of the world’s busiest and most strategic aviation hubs
“On the return leg, flight times are carefully synchronized to ensure smooth connections across our growing African network, linking passengers from London to key destinations in East, Central, and West Africa.”she said in a statement on Sunday
The launch comes amid growing trade and tourism ties between Uganda and the UK.
According to data from the British High Commission in Kampala, total trade between the two countries reached GBP 880 million in 2023, while Uganda’s cumulative exports to the UK over the past five years amounted to GBP 2.3 billion.
Minister of Works and Transport, Gen. Katumba Wamala, added. “This is more than a flight; it is a bridge for business, investment, and people-to-people connections. When His Excellency President Yoweri Museveni championed the revival of Uganda Airlines in 2015, his vision was to create direct air links that reduce travel time, and today’s launch brings that vision closer to full realisation. The direct service to London Gatwick enables faster, more efficient movement of people and goods by eliminating layovers.
This is a win for exporters, importers, and travelers alike and a driver of growth for our economy.”
He also noted the impact on tourism: “The UK remains one of Uganda’s largest source markets for inbound tourism. This direct flight makes it more convenient than ever for British tourists to explore Uganda’s diverse natural attractions, from the mountain gorillas to the source of the Nile. We anticipate a strong boost in tourism arrivals and associated revenues.”
Katumba said, “Uganda Airlines is proud to be the first carrier to operate the Airbus A330-800neo into London Gatwick and even prouder that this flight symbolizes our commitment to sustainable aviation.”
Gabriel Semelas, President of Airbus Africa & Middle East, praised the airline’s milestone, saying, “It’s an honor for Airbus to see Uganda Airlines launch its inaugural direct Entebbe-London route with the A330-800.”
He emphasised: “This milestone truly showcases how the A330neo delivers superior quality, efficiency, and operational reliability, all while significantly boosting East Africa’s global connections. At Airbus, we are privileged to provide these highly innovative aircraft that are empowering Uganda Airlines’ intercontinental expansion and commitment to world-class service.”
Uganda Airlines is the national carrier of Uganda and operates international scheduled air transportation services in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and soon Europe. The airline started commercial operations in August 2019.
Uganda Airlines is a proud winner of the prestigious “Ch-Aviation Youngest Aircraft Fleet Award in the World for 5 years in a row, recognizing the carrier’s leadership in maintaining a young, modern, and efficient fleet that is environmentally cautious about decarbonizing its operations.
The airline’s current network includes scheduled flights to 16 destinations in Africa.