Entebbe Traffic Slips 10.8pc as Middle East Turmoil Disrupts Global Travel Flows

July 17, 2026 in Transport, Travel & Tourism by Editor

Entebbe International Airport recorded a 10.8pc decline in passenger traffic during the first half of 2026 as disruptions in the Middle East, airline schedule adjustments and regional uncertainties weighed on international travel flows. However, growth in aircraft movements, domestic travel and transit traffic offered signs of resilience as Uganda’s aviation sector navigated a turbulent global operating environment.

 

Entebbe International Airport recorded its first significant traffic slowdown in recent years during the first half of 2026, with international passenger numbers falling by 10.8pc as a combination of geopolitical tensions, health concerns and airline operational disruptions weighed on Uganda’s aviation sector.

Data from the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) shows that the country’s main gateway handled 1,010,961 international passengers between January and June 2026, down from 1,133,366 during the same period in 2025.

The decline represents the most notable reversal in passenger growth since the industry’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to UCAA Manager for Public Affairs Vianney Luggya Mpungu, the downturn reflects a convergence of extraordinary external shocks rather than weakening demand for Uganda as a destination.

“June traffic recorded a lower figure than the same month last year. Half year isn’t any better due to the closure of parts of the Middle East airspace in March and the subsequent events,” Luggya said.

The closure of sections of Middle East airspace following heightened regional tensions forced airlines to reroute flights, disrupted global schedules and increased operating costs, effects that cascaded across African aviation networks heavily dependent on Gulf carriers for onward connections.

For Uganda, the situation was compounded by the Ebola outbreak in neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo and the limited spillover into Uganda in May this year.

Although Uganda quickly contained the outbreak, the health scare prompted several countries to tighten travel measures. Dutch carrier KLM temporarily suspended flights to Entebbe, while Uganda closed its border crossings with the DRC to contain the disease, disrupting cross-border passenger movements and forcing Uganda Airlines to suspend its Entebbe-Kinshasa operations.

The crisis also affected travel beyond the region after the United Arab Emirates cancelled visas for Ugandan travellers, reducing demand on one of Entebbe’s busiest long-haul corridors.

Uganda Airlines faced additional challenges when its Airbus A330 fleet was grounded during the first quarter of 2026, disrupting services and reducing feeder traffic from its London route, one of the airport’s fastest-growing international markets.

But the combined effects extended beyond passenger numbers. International cargo imports fell 15.8pc to 9,079 tonnes, while exports declined 26.5pc to 16,797 tonnes, reflecting softer regional trade flows and disruptions to international logistics.

Commercial aircraft movements and domestic travel, however, provided some of the few bright spots in the first-half performance. Commercial aircraft movements increased from 15,922 in the first six months of 2025 to 17,669 over the same period this year, representing growth of almost 11pc. Domestic passenger traffic rose by 28.7pc, from 11,251 to 14,476 passengers, while transit traffic grew by 11.4pc to 51,677 passengers. The increase in transit volumes may reflect airlines and travellers routing through Entebbe as disruptions across parts of the Middle East prompted adjustments to traditional travel corridors, including traffic between South Asia and Europe.

June’s monthly performance illustrates the challenges facing the airport. During the month, Entebbe handled 67,601 arriving and 63,645 departing international passengers, alongside 1,419 tonnes of imports and 2,721 tonnes of exports.

Industry observers expect traffic to recover during the second half of the year as Middle East airspace restrictions ease, international airline schedules stabilise and confidence in regional travel continues to improve following the end of Ebola-related restrictions.

Even so, the first-half figures underscore how vulnerable African aviation remains to external shocks originating far beyond the continent’s borders, from geopolitical conflicts to public health emergencies, and the extent to which such events can ripple through tourism, trade and national airline operations.