In a bold move to reclaim its place in the skies, Uganda Airlines, the country’s revived national carrier, signed a deal with Canadian firm Bombardier in 2018 to acquire four CRJ900 regional jets, each costing $27.3 million. The deal marked a significant milestone in the airline’s ambitious revival plan.
Configured with 76 seats, 12 of which are in business class, the aircraft were designed for regional routes. The first two jets were delivered in 2019, signaling a confident return to regional aviation for the once-grounded airline.
The fleet was later expanded to include two Airbus A330-800neo aircraft for long-haul international routes, while the CRJ900s remained dedicated to regional and short-haul operations. More recently, the airline introduced an Airbus A320-200 under a short-term wet lease agreement with Lithuania-based carrier DAT.
Uganda Airlines currently operates 17 destinations, including Abuja, Lusaka, Harare, Nairobi, Mombasa, Dar es Salaam, Bujumbura, Johannesburg, Dubai, Zanzibar, Lagos, Kinshasa, Mumbai, Mogadishu, Juba, Kilimanjaro, and, most recently, London Gatwick. The London route marks the airline’s third intercontinental destination after Mumbai and Dubai.
However, the airline is now overstretched following the expansion of its route network. This has led to aircraft breakdowns and groundings in Nigeria and Entebbe. The grounding of the aircraft has been attributed to a scarcity of spare parts and the gradual phasing out of Bombardier jet production.
Uganda Airlines Chief Executive Officer Jennifer Bamuturaki said the airline has experienced significant disruptions, including flight cancellations and delays, due to operating with two fewer aircraft.
“We have seven aircraft, including one under a wet lease, but we currently have one Airbus and one CRJ grounded. This means we are facing technical challenges, which have caused a lot of disruption, especially during this Christmas travel season,” she said.
She added that the airline has inconvenienced many passengers due to flight combinations and extended delays. “This has also been compounded by Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs). In some cases, flights are extended and then affected by airport closures or restricted operating hours resulting from these notices,” she explained.
“It is not a very good time for us, and it is extremely uncomfortable for our guests as well,” Bamuturaki said.
She further revealed that one of the airline’s aircraft is currently grounded in Lagos, Nigeria, due to mechanical challenges.
“We have an aircraft grounded in Lagos, and we are working around the clock with the equipment manufacturer to source the required parts and return the aircraft to service,” she said.
She also addressed public confusion regarding reports that an aircraft had been stuck in London, clarifying that the information was incorrect. The aircraft, she said, landed approximately an hour later than scheduled.
“We are currently operating with only one Airbus, and this already has a ripple effect on the other routes that are served by the Airbus aircraft,” she siad.
