Having taken delivery of the first of its two brand new Airbus A330neos, we thought we would take a look at what routes Uganda Airlines plans to operate the aircraft on. Before the new A330neos arrival Uganda Airlines was limited to flying short-haul routes within Africa to places like Nairobi, Lusaka, and Dar es Salaam.
According to Planespotter.net Uganda Airlines’ entire fleet was made up of just four Bombardier CRJ-900s with an average age of 1.6-years. Uganda Airlines’ plan is to operate the twin-engine regional jets on short-haul routes linking Kampala with other African capitals.
Historically the landlocked East African nation looked to Europe as a source of tourist revenue but started to promote “The Pearl of Africa” further afield, targeting emerging markets in the Middle East and Asia. With the long-range A330neo aircraft in its fleet, Uganda Airlines can offer tourists non-stop flights directly to Entebbe International Airport (EBB). According to a recent tweet by the airlines, its first long-haul flights will be to the following destinations:
- London Heathrow (LHR)
- Dubai (DXB)
- Guangzhou (CAN)
- Mumbai (BOM)
Even as airlines look to recover following the COVID-19 pandemic, experts predict that due to the economic consequences brought about by the coronavirus, tourists will carefully study all their options. The Uganda Tourist Board feels that the availability to fly non-stop to Uganda from Europe, the Middle East, and Asia will be a strong selling point. This, combined with the A330neos superior passenger comfort, should give Uganda an advantage over East African neighbors Kenya and Tanzania.
About Uganda Airlines A330neo
Built using technology developed for the Airbus A350, the A330neo is a highly fuel-efficient aircraft burning 25% less fuel than previous generation aircraft. The cabin of the A330neo is designed with passenger comfort in mind and comes fitted with the latest in-flight entertainment systems and connectivity.
As the second airline to take delivery of the Airbus A330-800 after Kuwait Airways, Uganda Airlines has configured its new aircraft with three classes of seating. These include 20 fully lay-flat seats in business class, 28 premium economy class seats, and 210 economy class seats in a 2-4-2 configuration for a total of 258 seats.
