Uganda Airlines flights disrupted over  “operational challenges”

The ongoing Uganda Airlines’ delays and cancellations on long-haul flights are a result of “operational challenges”, the national carrier has said.

The first complaints came from passengers on the Entebbe–Dubai route, who reported multiple reschedules before being informed, according to one traveller, that they would not be flying until Sunday.

In a brief statement, the national carrier acknowledged the disruptions, saying: “We are currently experiencing disruptions on our long-haul schedules operated with our Airbus A330-800neo aircraft.”

The airline did not provide specifics on the cause of the difficulties but confirmed that the issues primarily affect flights operated by its two Airbus A330-800neo jets. These wide-body aircraft serve Uganda Airlines’ three long-haul international routes: Entebbe–London Gatwick (launched May 2025, four flights weekly), Entebbe–Dubai (four flights weekly: Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Friday) Entebbe–Mumbai (three flights weekly)

Most of the airline’s 17 African regional routes are flown by its smaller Bombardier CRJ-900 regional jets and remain unaffected. Growing Demand and Strained Fleet Industry observers have suggested that the airline’s small long-haul fleet may be under pressure, with little turnaround time between flights.

Cargo demand on the London Gatwick service has surged in recent months, with Uganda Airlines reporting full-capacity bookings “several months ahead.”

Dubai remains the carrier’s most lucrative route for both passengers and freight. Expansion Plans Under its 10-year growth strategy, Uganda Airlines plans to: acquire six additional jets, including two dedicated cargo freighters, launch new long-haul routes such as Jeddah and Riyadh (Saudi Arabia) and Guangzhou (China).

It also plans on adding regional destinations, including Accra (Ghana) and Cape Town (South Africa).