Nigeria’s Abuja among Uganda Airlines’s new expansion routes 

Abuja Nigeria is one of three new regional routes Uganda Airlines will launch in September, connecting Entebbe International Airport (EBB) to Abuja, Harare, and Lusaka, per Simple Flying. The airline began operations in Nigeria last year as part of its regional expansion and three new routes are coming ahead of the airline’s planned expansion in Europe and Asia.

Simple Flying reports Uganda Airlines launched flights to Lagos in October 2023, significantly reducing the travel time between Uganda and Nigeria. At the time, it was reported that the airline had received permission from the Nigerian Ministry of Aviation to serve two additional cities: Abuja and Kano.

The airline will launch flights to Abuja Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (ABV) on September 12, 2024. The service will be operated twice weekly, on Sundays and Thursdays, with its flagship Airbus A330-800 aircraft. The route extends the regular Entebbe-Lagos service, operated on Sundays, Mondays, and Thursdays.

According to the airline’s booking platform, Flight UR900 will depart Entebbe at 07:45 and arrive in Abuja at 12:55 on Sundays. On Thursdays, it is scheduled to depart Entebbe at 16:00 and arrive at 20:40 local time. The return flights will be operated directly from Abuja to Entebbe, departing at 13:55 and arriving at 20:10 on Sundays and departing at 21:40 and arriving at 03:55 on Thursdays.

Flights to Southern Africa

Uganda Airlines will commence its flights to Lusaka and Harare on September 25, 2024, expanding its presence in Southern Africa. Both flights will be operated four times a week on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays with the CRJ900LR. Speaking about the new services, Uganda Airlines CEO Jenifer Bamuturaki said:

“We are delighted to announce these additions to our network, which not only increase Uganda’s connectivity to the rest of Africa but bring more choice and convenience to our customers. “The new services also mark the second phase of our network development and attest to our mission to bring affordable air travel to Ugandans for business and leisure. They also lay the groundwork for the final phase, during which we shall expand our footprint to points in Europe and Asia.”

With the introduction of the three new services, Uganda Airlines will grow its network from 13 to 16 destinations, predominantly in Africa. The addition of Abuja, Harare, and Lusaka marks a significant milestone in the airline’s efforts to increase intra-Africa connectivity. The routes will also allow for more convenient travel between West and Southern Africa, providing more opportunities for business, tourism, trade, and cultural exchange.

Expanding intercontinental flights

As Bamuturaki highlighted, the new routes lay the groundwork for the airline’s planned expansion in Europe and Asia. Uganda Airlines currently serves 13 destinations, with Dubai and Mumbai being the only two outside Africa. The airline launched flights to Mumbai in October 2023, providing convenient connections from East Africa and Nigeria to India.

Last month, Uganda Airlines told Simple Flying that it plans to double or triple its number of destinations over the next five years. In the short term, it plans to launch flights to London Gatwick, which should be ready by the end of the year. It also plans to fly to China next year and then add flights to Frankfurt and possibly the US in the long term.

To achieve this, the airline must grow its fleet from the two Airbus A330neos and four CRJ900LRs it currently operates. As such, it plans to have at least 12 aircraft in the next five years, double its current fleet. The airline is looking to add four Airbus A320neos for regional operations and at least two Boeing 787 Dreamliners for its planned long-haul operations.