Uganda Airlines Begins B737 Crew Hiring as it Prepares to Shift From Wet to Dry Leases

August 30, 2026 in Business, Companies, Travel & Tourism by Editor

Uganda Airlines has begun recruiting Boeing 737 pilots as it prepares to transition from wet-leased to dry-leased operations, building internal capacity as it expands its regional network and awaits the delivery of Boeing 737 Max aircraft.

 

Uganda Airlines has begun recruiting Boeing 737 captains and First Officers as it prepares to transition from wet-leased operations to dry leases, a move that would give the national carrier greater control over the aircraft and its operating costs.

The recruitment marks an important step in the carrier’s plans to build internal flight-deck capacity ahead of the expected delivery of its Boeing 737 Max aircraft on order, while also preparing for a longer-term replacement of the current crew-and-aircraft arrangement.

The flag carrier has advertised positions for Boeing 737 captains and First Officers, as well as Country Managers for Rwanda and West Africa. The latter appointments come ahead of the planned launch of services to Kigali and Accra, with the airline scheduled to begin flights to Accra on October 27 and Kigali on November 19.

The move is part of the flag carrier’s broader effort to build operational capacity, rationalise its network and create a schedule capable of feeding passengers efficiently between its regional and long-haul services.

256 Business News contacted Uganda Airlines on August 18 seeking details on the number of flight-deck crew to be recruited and the timeline for the transition but had not received a response by the time of publication.

However, sources familiar with the airline’s plans said the carrier intends to have its own flight-deck crew in place by November, when its current wet lease arrangement for a Boeing 737-800 is expected to expire.

Uganda Airlines has been operating the aircraft under a wet lease from Ethiopian Airlines since May. Under the arrangement, the aircraft and its operating crew are provided by the lessor.

The proposed shift to a dry lease would see Uganda Airlines take the aircraft without the flight-deck crew and operate it with its own pilots and cabin crew.

The sources said the aircraft is still expected to be sourced from Ethiopian Airlines, but under a different operating arrangement.

They said the change could significantly reduce the airline’s direct leasing costs, potentially by about two-thirds, while allowing it to retain the aircraft for longer than the wet-lease arrangements permitted under Uganda’s regulatory framework.

Wet leases are also subject to limits imposed by the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority, with the current regulatory framework restricting such arrangements to a maximum of six months.

Network rationalisation

The move comes as Uganda Airlines restructures its regional network and schedules around a stronger connectivity model, with the aim of improving passenger feed between regional services and its growing long-haul network.

The sources’ said Kigali is expected to provide additional feed into Uganda Airlines’ European and West African services, while Accra is intended to strengthen connectivity to Lagos and Mumbai.

The carrier has also adjusted its schedule to create more effective connections between its regional and long-haul flights.

London departures have been moved to a daytime schedule, with flights leaving Entebbe between 10.30am and 11am and returning the following day between 5.30am and 6.30am.

The adjustment is intended to improve connections with the airline’s morning wave of flights from southern Africa, including Johannesburg, Harare and Lusaka.

An additional weekly frequency has also been introduced on the Harare-Lusaka route on Saturdays, while Johannesburg has received an additional frequency on Mondays.

Plans to increase Johannesburg to twice-daily were, however, put on hold following the outbreak of xenophobic violence targeting African migrants in South Africa.

On the Nairobi-Entebbe route, Uganda Airlines has retained three daily frequencies but adjusted departure times. The first morning flight to Nairobi has moved from 6.30am to 8am, while a late evening departure has been added at 10pm.

“The philosophy behind the new route structure is connectivity and growth,” sources said. “This will be supported by a new bank structure with morning, mid-afternoon and evening departures, all configured to deliver more efficient feed and de-feed within the network.”

The move to dry leasing is strategically significant for Uganda Airlines because it shifts more operational responsibility and capability into the carrier itself.

Rather than relying on an external airline to provide pilots as part of a wet-lease package, Uganda Airlines will have to maintain the necessary pool of appropriately qualified and certified crew to operate the aircraft.

Sources said preparations to certify cabin crew are also at an advanced stage.

The transition would also provide the airline with greater flexibility over how the aircraft is deployed within its network, while reducing its reliance on external capacity as it prepares for the arrival of its own Boeing 737 Max aircraft.

For Uganda Airlines, the immediate challenge will be ensuring that recruitment, training, certification and regulatory approvals are completed in time to support the transition when the current wet lease expires.