Africa is on the rise, with leaders across the continent adopting new mindsets and languages reflecting progress and innovation. In a groundbreaking development, Uganda Airlines is set to launch new routes to Abuja, Harare, and Lusaka. This expansion aims to increase revenue, improve fleet utilization, and position the airline for further market growth.
The new service to Abuja will operate twice a week, beginning on September 12, 2024. Two weeks later, flights to Lusaka and Harare will commence, operating four times a week. These routes will follow a triangular pattern: Entebbe-Lusaka-Harare-Entebbe and Entebbe-Harare-Lusaka-Entebbe.
This expansion will increase Uganda Airlines’ destinations from 13 to 16, enhancing operational efficiency by creating a network effect that feeds traffic to other destinations. “Launching these routes marks the conclusion of our three-year strategic plan, paving the way for the next phase of our 10-year rolling plan,” stated CEO Jenifer Bamuturaki.
The Abuja route, adding an hour of flying time to the existing Lagos service, is expected to capture traffic from the underserved Nigerian capital. The Nairobi-Abuja route, currently one of the largest underserved markets on the continent, will benefit from this direct service, potentially reversing flows from Kenya to Nigeria.
Currently, Ethiopian Airlines and a few North African carriers serve Abuja, with Ethiopian holding a monopoly on routes between Abuja and East and Southern Africa, making Abuja-Entebbe one of the most expensive routes in Africa. Uganda Airlines aims to break this monopoly and offer more competitive options.
“Our aspiration is to bridge the geographical gaps and connect East to West, North, and South of Africa. This vision guides our route expansion, which is informed by feasibility studies pointing us to underserved routes,” Bamuturaki explained, defending the decision to expand into markets perceived by some as commercially risky.
Uganda Airlines is also looking at Lusaka and Harare as strategic hubs to feed into its services to West Africa, the Middle East, India, and later China and the United Kingdom. This strategic expansion aligns with the airline’s broader vision of connecting Africa more efficiently and enhancing intra-continental travel.
By implementing these new routes, Uganda Airlines is set to play a pivotal role in increasing connectivity across Africa, supporting economic growth, and fostering regional integration.