Uganda Airlines takes off on inaugural flight to London Gatwick

May 18, 2025 in Business, Companies, Trade & Industry, Travel & Tourism by Editor

Uganda Airlines today flagged-off its much-anticipated direct flights  to London Gatwick Airport (LGW), with officials hailing it as “marking a historic milestone,” in the national carrier’s international expansion strategy that also signals deepening ties between Uganda and the United Kingdom.

The inaugural flight departed Entebbe at 10:16 AM local time and is scheduled to land at Gatwick at 4:55 PM UK time. The new non-stop service will operate four times a week—on Sundays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays—with same-day return flights, offering seamless connectivity between the two countries.

The route becomes Uganda Airlines’ 17th destination and its longest yet, spanning over 6,400 kilometers. It is served by the airline’s Airbus A330-800neo, a state-of-the-art wide-body aircraft lauded for its long-haul comfort, fuel efficiency, and lower environmental footprint.

Speaking shortly before departure, Uganda Airlines CEO Jenifer Bamuturaki hailed the occasion as a turning point for the airline: “This launch is more than just a new route—it marks a pivotal milestone in Uganda Airlines’ journey. With today’s departure, we officially transition from our establishment phase into a new chapter of long-term growth and expansion.”

She also revealed that the return leg of the flight would incorporate a blend of conventional Jet A-1 and Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF)—a first for the airline and a step forward in supporting the global aviation industry’s Net Zero ambitions.

The London route follows Uganda Airlines’ recent launches to Abuja, Lusaka, and Harare, solidifying Entebbe’s position as a growing regional aviation hub. The carrier now connects passengers across 13 countries in Africa and Europe.

Uganda’s Minister of Works and Transport, Gen. Edward Katumba Wamala, praised the launch as a transformative development:“ This is more than a flight—it is a bridge for business, investment, and people-to-people connections. Today’s launch brings us closer to realising President Museveni’s vision of direct air links that reduce travel time and open Uganda to the world.”

He noted the UK’s role as Uganda’s largest source market for European tourists—accounting for 27 percent of arrivals from Europe in 2024—and emphasized the route’s potential to stimulate trade, tourism, and diaspora engagement.

According to the British High Commission in Kampala, total bilateral trade between the two countries reached £860 million in 2023. Over the past five years, Uganda’s cumulative exports to the UK have exceeded £2.3 billion.

The London Gatwick route also aligns with Uganda’s Vision 2040, which identifies aviation as a strategic driver of economic growth. The outbound flight schedule has been designed to support onward connections to Europe and North America, while inbound flights offer smooth transit across Uganda Airlines’ expanding African network.

Gabriel Semelas, President of Airbus Africa & Middle East, lauded the development: “This milestone highlights how the A330neo delivers quality, efficiency, and operational reliability, while significantly boosting East Africa’s global connectivity.”

Coming four years later that initially planned, flights to London now leave Guangzhou as the only pending destination in Uganda Airlines long-haul network. That might have to wait for a while, as the carrier works to acquire additional medium haul aircraft that will free the second A330 from its duties  on the Dubai, Mumbai and Lagos routes,