Presented by Joep Ellers, Airbus Marketing Director for Africa, the outlook reaffirmed the numbers the airframer first presented last December.

“During this period, the fleet in the region will transition to new generation types such as the A220, A320neo family, A330neo and A350 bringing significant efficiency improvement and a corresponding reduction in carbon emissions per passenger,” the airframer says in a statement released at the event.

The growth will be supported by a forecast 2.8 percent CAGR increase in GDP between now and 2040, itself anchored by increased tourism and intra-regional trade.

In agreement with forecasts by global airline lobby IATA, Airbus also sees air traffic in Africa rebounding to 2019 levels between late 2023 and the start of 2025. The airframer said African air cargo is already operating at 23 percent above pre-crisis levels today while O&D passenger traffic in Africa is set to increase by a factor of 2.3 by 2040.

“Cargo traffic to and from Africa will increase by a factor of 2.5. This strong recovery is due to the fundamental drivers of traffic demand – economic growth faster than the world average; young and growing population, urbanization and middle-class development, remaining unchanged.”

The airframer adds that the potential for air travel within Africa remains strong because limited ground transportation infrastructure, and an abundance of natural resources, all supporting trade and tourism.

“Over the past 10+ years, significant improvements to the industry have been made across the continent, including the creation of the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) as well as the modernisation of fleets by national airlines. Today African carriers such as Ethiopian Airlines, Air Senegal, South African Airways, Air Côte d’Ivoire, EgyptAir, Uganda Airlines and Air Tanzania, have chosen to operate some of the most technologically advanced aircraft such as the A350, A330neo, A320neo and the A220.The impact that the aviation industry has had on the sustainable development of Africa cannot be overstated. Aviation not only gets people moving, but it also fosters regional integration, creates jobs and enables domestic, intra-African and global trade.”

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The A320 and similar sized aircraft would address the 100-200 seat gap in the fleet which will become critical as the airline expands its network into central and west Africa. Uganda Airlines current serves 11 destinations but as travel restarts, officials are looking to ramp up route development to reach the initial target 19 routes during the first phase.

Uganda Airlines Chief Executive Jenifer Musiime aboard the carrier’s A330 on static display at the Dubai Airshow

Speaking on the sidelines of the Dubai Airshow, where Uganda Airlines became the first African customer to sign up to Airbus’ Flight Hour Services covering the A330-800, interim chief executive Ms Jenifer Musiime, told 256BN confirmed that talks on near-term fleet growth with the European airframer had started.

A decision was tending towards the A320neo because of its’ range and ability to carry a full load out of Entebbe, which is a hot and high airport. Ms Musiime says that while the CRJ has the range to reach most of the destinations planned for the intra-African network, it was weight limited and would impose a trade-off between range and the number of passengers on board.

“We are already experiencing something like that on the Entebbe-Kinshasa route,” Musiime revealed.

Although the new-mint A220-300 also has the range to reach virtually all intercontinental destinations non-stop from Entebbe, it is not a candidate for now because its seating would max out 150 passengers in a two-class configuration. That would still leave a gap of 80 seats unaddressed between it and the 230-258 seat A330-800.

Uganda Airlines sees the larger A320 as a low-risk growth aircraft that provides the flexibility for substitution with the A330 on routes such as Mumbai during low season or frequency growth. The aircraft is also attractive because of the flexibility it provides for cabin-layout. The aircraft can accommodate lie-flat seats in the business class, or even premium-economy, which would permit product commonality between it and the A330.

Musiime did not indicate the number A320’s under consideration or the timeline for the acquisition but analysts believe a minimum of two would be required initially.

At the show, Musiime also signed cooperation agreements with Pakistan International Airlines and Sri Lanka Airways. The two tie-ups further underwrite the planned service to Mumbai by raising the potential for connecting traffic.

The airline has so far been shunned by its peers in the region such as Air Tanzania, Kenya Airways and Rwandair, who have refused to enter interline agreements with it. Industry analysts says this could be the result of a wait and see attitude given relative youth of the airline and the fact that is yet to embark on the IATA Operational Safety Audit -IOSA, a critical endorsement for safe operations by the industry.

Uganda Airlines launched its first intercontinental service to Dubai on October 4 and now awaits approvals to commence services to London, Mumbai, Guangzhou and Shanghai. To feed the service, the airline needs new connections to central and west Africa which will need aircraft with sufficient capacity for passengers and cargo.

The Dubai Airshow opened on November 14, to a massive 255 order for Airbus aircraft by Indigo Partners, signaling the rising optimism about prospects for an air transport industry that has been battered by the Covid-19 pandemic. Additional orders for 16 A220’s by Nigeria’s Ibom Air, 20 A320 and A321 neo’s by Jazeera Air and 111 eleven aircraft order by Air Lease Corporation covering the A220, A320/A321, A330 and A350 freighters, saw Airbus’s order tally at the show soar past 400 orders and commitments.

Airbus’ US rival Boeing had by Tuesday logged 82 orders including a pair of B737-Max and a single unit each for the B787 and Boeing 767 by Air Tanzania. The 767 will be a dedicated freighter while the 787 will join the existing fleet of two Dreamliners.

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Of the 408 sales by Airbus 269 were firm orders while 139 were commitments, including a launch order the freighter version of theA350F.

Meanwhile, the European airframers’ US rival Boeing logged orders for 99 aircraft, 74 of them for the 737 Max, including an order for two by Air Tanzania. Boeing’s orders comprised a pair of 777 freighters for Emirates, two 777-300 for Sky One, 72 737 Max for India based Akasha Airlines, 11 B737-800BCF and nine 767 converted freighters by DHL.

Regional turboprop aircraft maker ATR secure two orders for a total of 8 aircraft. Spanish operator Binter Canaris placed orders for 4 ATR 72-600’s and an option for one while Romania’s flag carrier Tarom, also placed a firm order for 3 ATR 72-600.

Airbus set the pace on the opening day of the show when it announced a 255 aircraft order by low-cost airline investor, Indigo Partners, covering 255 A321neo Family aircraft, including 29 XLR. Of those, 102 aircraft comprising 75 A321neo and 27A321XLR are destined for Wizz Air 102 aircraft; Frontier 91 A321neo; Volaris 39 A321neo; JetSMART 21 A321neo and 2 A321XLR.

Air Lease Corporation lit up the second day with a commitment for 111 aircraft covering 7units of the new A350 Freighter, 25 A220-300s, 55 A321neos, 20 A321XLRs and four A330neos.

The third day saw announcements by Jazeera Airways for 28 A321neos and Nigeria’s Ibom Air for 10 A220s.

The Emirati and Indonesian militaries rounded off the defence side with orders for Airbus A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) to the United Arab Emirates Air Force and Air Defence, and two A400M new generation airlifters from the Indonesian Ministry of Defence.

Ahead of the show, Airbus had launched its latest global market forecast showing a gradual shift in demand from fleet growth to accelerated retirement of older, less fuel-efficient aircraft that will result in a need for 39,000 new-build passenger and freighter aircraft. Around 40pc of these or15,250 aircraft will be for replacements.

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The Dubai Airshow, the first such event since the Covid-19 pandemic scuttled the Paris Airshow that was due last June, opens on Sunday November 14. It will run for five days, closing on November18.

Airbus will have a range of its civil and military products on display at the show. The civil display will feature aircraft ranging from the A220, the worlds only greenfield aircraft development in the 100- 150 seat range, to the flagship A350, the current largest widebody offering by Airbus. Uganda Airlines A330 will seat somewhere between the A321 and the A350.

256BN, will be on the ground to bring you show news as it breaks.

Jenifer Bamuturaki, the carrier’s interim chief executive said visibility at the show was a huge marketing opportunity not just for the airline but for Uganda as a destination. Visitors to the show will have an opportunity to experience Uganda Airlines product offering while the Ugandan flag that adorns the tail section of the aircraft will be screaming Uganda to all and sundry.

Uganda Airlines launched a service to Dubai on November 4, the first of four medium and long haul destinations. Others in the pipeline are Guangzhou, London and Mumbai.

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However, it was not immediately clear if  besides the static display, the aircraft will engage in any demonstration flights. The Dubai Airshow is the first in-person international air display  since Covid-19 disrupted the global economy, forcing the cancellation of last years edition of the Farnborough Air Show in the UK. All factors remaining constant, the next big event will be the Paris Airshow, next June.

Uganda Airlines was the first customer to commit to the long-range jet, that was designed as a replacement for the A330-200 (ce0) current engine option. The Uganda flag carrier operates two of the jets that it intends to use of routes to London, Guangzhou, Mumbai and some intermediate routes within Africa.

So far, only Dubai is operational with London set to commence in the next couple of months following Uganda’s removal from the UK’s red list. Guangzhou and Mumbai will also launch as travel restrictions ease in those markets.

The A330 family has logged 1818 firm orders since it first took to the air in November 1992. About 340 of that number belong to the A330-Neo range which comes in two variants, – 900 and the -800. Although the bulk of new orders have been for the larger -900 variant, it is believed that is because of the relatively young fleet of  A330-200- ceo’s whose replacement cycle is expected to gather steam mid-decade.

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Under the revised schedule, the second aircraft would follow in November in time for launch of the first intercontinental route in December 2020.

According to usually reliable sources, the airline is now weighing the cost implications of deferring the deliveries and parking the fleet at Entebbe International Airport. While it would be cheaper than leaving them with the manufacturer, it is understood that the airline management is conscious of the negative comments that followed the five months hiatus between the arrival of the first Bombardier CRJ 900 NextGen in April 2019 and the first commercial flight in October that year.

Sources add further that the airline is not facing any financial pressures, having received all the money needed for this phase of its development plan. Payments for the widebody fleet are up to date with a final payment of just $17 million pending for the two aircraft.

The COVID-19 crisis has impacted global air travel as countries shut their airspace and impose internal lockdowns. Uganda airlines which needs a minimum of 17 routes for the current fleet of four CRJ-900 aircraft to be optimally utilised, was planning to launch another nine routes between March and October, to complete phase one development. These included Kinshasa and Johannesburg in April followed by Lusaka, Harare and Goma. Lagos and either London or Guangzhou, would follow to launch the second phase, once the A330’s arrived. It also is understood that Uganda is trying to secure rights to Heathrow for the London flights. Should the sought slots be allocated, Uganda Airlines would be the other carrier in East Africa, after Kenya Airways, to offer direct flights to London Heathrow.

A source close to the airline says the carrier has become well-resourced after President Museveni made it clear to reluctant ministry of finance technocrats, that he would not entertain any financial hurdles in the way of the comeback flag carrier. It is reported that in one meeting last year, Museveni told officials to put his Gulfstream GV presidential transport on the market, if they could not find money for the national carrier within the budget.

The only problem for the airline management now is the uncertainty surrounding the market, since it is not known when the COVID-19 crisis will ease and travel restrictions lifted. Even then, it would be a while before traffic and the global economy recover to precrisis levels. The process of securing flight approvals and recruitment of representatives in the different markets has also been impacted as a result.

Uganda Airlines is the second operator in East Africa to have ordered Airbus’s revamped A330 twinjet. Rwandair has a pair of the larger -900-neo on order but has not given any reason for putting off the deliveries that were due in 2019.

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“By mid-2022 the current A380 Lagardère facility in Toulouse will accommodate a digitally- enabled A321 line as a step to modernize the A320 production system in Toulouse. The new facilities will provide more flexibility for A321 production, while keeping the overall single aisle industrial capacity in Toulouse flat,” Airbus says in a January 21 statement adding.

The new line, which will join Hamburg as the other Europe based A321 final assembly shop, will be used to ramp rump up assembly of the type whose other iterations such as the A321LR and XLR have gained quick traction in the market. 

“We are enjoying an unprecedented high demand for our winning A320neo Family and especially its A321 Long Range (LR) and Xtra Long Range (XLR) derivatives,” said Michael Schoellhorn, Airbus Chief Operating Officer. “In order to optimize the industrial flow, we have decided to increase our global A321 production capacity and flexibility as well as to establish a next generation Final Assembly Line in Toulouse.” 

Currently, the only European Final Assembly Line to assemble A321s is at Airbus’ Hamburg site. In addition, the A321 is also being assembled and delivered from Mobile, Alabama, USA. 

Airbus says Toulouse was selected for a second A321 line because of its overall competitiveness including, time to market, investment cost, available floor space and resources. 

With a back log of more than 6500, the A320neo Family is the world’s best-selling single aisle airliner with more than 7 100 aircraft sold to some 110 customers. 

The latest iteration of the family, the A321XLR, deliveries of which begin in 2023, will have a range of up to 4,700nm and deliver 30pc lower fuel burn per seat compared with previous generation competitor aircraft.

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The first announcement involved a 50 aircraft order by Emirates Airline which converted a previous MoU for a mix 70 aircraft into a firm commitment for fifty examples of the Airbus A350-900.

Later in the day Air Arabia announced a 120 aircraft order for the A320neo. The orders lifted the pall off the show that opened on Sunday with an announcement for just  a pair of B787’s.

The Emirates order is being seen as part of the carrier’s plans to fill the gap created by the cancellation of an outstanding order for 39 A380-800’s whose production ceases in 2021. The A350’s will be delivered over a period of five years starting May 2023.

When Airbus announced that it had decided to terminate the A380 programme, Emirates and the airframer tentatively negotiated a deal involving 40 A330neos and 30 A350s. Today’s deal effectively takes the A330neo out of the frame for now and means Emirates final tally of A380’s will stop at 123 aircraft as opposed to the 162 that were on order. With 112 A380’s already delivered, Emirates will accept another 11 airframes between now and 2021 when production of the type ceases.

Until today’s order, Emirates had only the A380 and Boeing 777 in its fleet. Sheikh Ahmad Bin Sayeed Al Makhtoum, Emirates Airline Group Chairman and Chief Executive says the A350 will add more flexibility to the fleet.

Meanwhile part of Air Arabia’s A320neo order will be used to replace capacity as well as support growth. The Sharjah-based low-cost carrier has broken its order into 73 A320neos, 27 A321neos and 20 A321XLRs.

Air Arabia’s Chief Executive Adel Ali says the order will facilitate the carrier’s growth over the next decade. Deliveries will start in 2024 which is when the first production slots for the type open up at Airbus.

The carrier is looking to open new routes into Africa, South-East Asia and Europe.

The other order of the day was a commitment for 10 B737Max-8 by Turkish leisure carrier SunExpress.

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Lufthansa announced the order on March 13, taking its total commitments for the A350 XWB to 45 twelve of which are already in operation. 

Dr. Detlef Kayser, a member of Lufthansa’s executive board said the aircraft which has met all their expectations “is extremely reliable and the feedback from our passengers is excellent.” said Group – Airlines Resources & Operational Standards. “We are delighted to be adding 20 more A350s to our fleet.

The carrier says the additional wide-body jets will help reduce unit costs and improve the reliability of Lufthansa’s long-haul fleet.

Christian Scherer, Airbus Chief Commercial Officer said the top-up order from Lufthansa which is the world’s single largest customer for Airbus with 674 aircraft, was an endorsement of the new standards the A350 has set for long haul flying that combine extra-long-range capability with the lowest seat mile cost while offering passengers the highest standards of comfort. 

Airbus had logged 852 firm orders from 48 customers for the A350 at the end of February 2019.

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Airbus to showcase aerospace and defence systems in Kigali

From commercial aircraft and helicopters to unmanned aerial systems and satellite imaging, Airbus will be showcasing the full spectrum of its business, products and services in Africa at this year’s Aviation Africa summit that runs from February 27-28 in Kigali, Rwanda.

This will be Airbus’ largest-ever participation at the annual summit since its inception three years ago.  Executives and experts from various Airbus units will be speaking at the summit.

“The Aviation Africa summit has established itself as an important business event on the African calendar,” said Hadi Akoum, Vice President, Sales for Sub-Sahara Africa & the Indian Ocean Islands at Airbus.

“With urbanisation, population growth and economic expansion, Africa’s air travel market is doubling in size every 15 years, making it one of the fastest expanding markets.  When one takes a broader view, aerospace in Africa also presents significant opportunities for industrial, social, knowledge-based and entrepreneurial partnerships that are essential to sustainable development,” Akoum added.

In addition to its commercial aircraft, Airbus will also promote its other products and service offerings, including helicopters, military transport aircraft, unmanned airborne systems, satellites and solutions such as its Skywise digital platform for the aviation industry.

There are currently 237 Airbus commercial airliners in service with 30 African operators.  Similarly, 91 Airbus military aircraft have been sold to customers in 17 African nations.  At the same time, 26.7% of the continent’s turbine helicopter fleet comprises over 614 various Airbus products operated in civil, para-public and military roles.   Airbus is also recognised as a world leader in unmanned aerial systems, satellites and geo-information solutions, which it offers to governments, industry and other institutions across Africa

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