Uganda Airlines will introduce regular scheduled flights between Entebbe and Johannesburg effective 31st May 2021, the country’s national carrier announced on Thursday.
According to the new route chart, Uganda airlines will start with four weekly flights (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday) to Johannesburg, and flights from Johannesburg to Entebbe on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday.
The launch is part of the long-term plan for the airline to embark on long-haul flights following acquisition of two brand new Airbuses in the A330-800neo series in December last year. The new aircrafts represent a significant capacity increase for the airline, which initially had a fleet of four Bombardier CRJ900 jets which launched regional operations in August 2019.
The new route according to Uganda airlines offers the best solution for all travelers with the only non-stop schedule service between Entebbe and Johannesburg, reduced journey time, more flight frequencies and superior on-board service at the most competitive fares on the market.
Beyond the main hubs at Entebbe and Johannesburg, the new service will also enhance connectivity to and from the current airline’s network which includes Nairobi, Der-es-salaam, Kinshasha, Juba, Mogadishu, Bujumbura, Zanzibar, Mombasa and Kirimanjaro.
The initial plan for Uganda Airlines was for the two-strong A330 fleet to fly to Dubai, South Africa, Mumbai, Guangzhou and London, similar to how other flag carriers in the region have launched long-haul operations in recent years.
Before receiving the airbuses, Uganda Airlines indicated it wanted to configure the new planes with three classes, including 20 business class, 28 premium economy and 213 economy class seats, for a total of 261.
According to the French manufacturer, the A330-800neo is the rarest variant of the A330, with just 10 total orders from two customers. Uganda Airlines with two orders and Kuwait Airways holding orders for the remaining eight aircrafts hoping to enter them into service in the near future.
