Uganda Airlines has launched new routes to expand its connectivity across Africa. The three routes, Abuja, Lusaka, and Harare, will commence this summer, September 2024.
Abuja will launch on September 12, 2024, with flights operated every Sunday and Thursday by A330-800 aircraft.
The service will be an extension of the airlines regular flights to Lagos, which operate every Sunday, Monday, and Thursday.
Flights to Lusaka and Harare will launch on September 25, 2024, and will operate four times a week: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday. Using the CRJ-900 aircraft, the service is expected to expand the coverage of Southern Africa.
Speaking at the launch held in Kampala, Uganda Airlines Chief Executive Officer Ms. Jenifer Bamuturaki, said the additions will not only increase Uganda’s connectivity to the rest of Africa but bring more choice and convenience to 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,” Bamuturaki added.
The new services, combined with the existing services to Bujumbura, Dar es Salaam, Dubai, Johannesburg, Juba, Kilimanjaro, Kinshasa, Lagos, Mogadishu, Mombasa, Mumbai, Nairobi, and Zanzibar, expand our coverage to 16 destinations.
She added that the launch of the new routes is a milestone in the continuous contribution to intra-African travel.
“The routes launched as we celebrate five years since starting operations in August 2019. The entry into these markets is meant to Build an efficient and optimized regional market which will feed and finance a more profitable long-haul market; Grow the aircraft fleet utilisation, Create a robust regional network that will serve as a feeder for the UR’s long-haul market, top unserved market and most importantly support Uganda Airline’s Africa network connectivity,” she said.
Adding, “Launching these routes marks the successful conclusion of our 3-year strategic plan, paving the way for the next phase of our 10-year rolling plan. This strategic approach ensures that our expansion is not just a leap of faith but a well-thought-out progression.”
Adedayo Olawuyi, Chief Commercial Officer Uganda Airlines, said the routes will also bridge to West Africa and Southern Africa will bringing convenience to travelers across the continent with direct flights and seamless connectivity while enabling multiple opportunities in business, trade, tourism, and socio-cultural linkages.
He revealed that they are looking at breaking even in the first 18 months of operating the new routes.
“The addition of the three routes should bring us an additional 10% increase to the revenue we are getting today,” he said.
