)
)
Ahead of its much-anticipated inaugural flight to London Gatwick next month, Uganda Airlines has already secured over 500 bookings.
The national carrier will have its first-ever European route on May 18th.
The direct flights, which will operate four times a week between Entebbe International Airport and London Gatwick, are already proving to be highly popular with passengers, with bookings confirmed as far as December 2025 and even extending into 2026.
Ms. Jenifer Bamuturaki, the CEO of Uganda Airlines, shared details about this early demand for the service.
)
)
)
“From the time we announced on March 18 to now, we have had over 500 bookings ticketed. London is a very mature market; Europe is a mature market. We have bookings that go as far down as December 2025; we even have 2026 bookings.”
)
Unexpected Benefit from Negative Publicity
Interestingly, Bamuturaki attributed this success in part to the negative publicity that followed last month’s announcement.
Reports started circulating during that week that the British Government had cancelled the airline’s Gatwick clearance on account of Uganda’s human rights record.
"Interestingly, the bad publicity has played in our favour. When people saw the false reports, they became curious and booked the flight to see if the claims were true,” Bamuturaki said.
A lot of the bookings, she said, are for the return flights from London to Entebbe, which are being booked with credit cards and have already been paid for.
Looking Ahead: A Game Changer for Uganda Airlines
For Uganda Airlines, the launch of the London route is seen as a "game changer" despite the challenges of operating on such a long-haul route.
Bamuturaki outlined that the airline must adapt and innovate to meet the demands of the market, stating, “We have to do things differently. We have to make transit much easier; there are many things that must change.”
She expressed confidence, however, that this route would significantly contribute to the airline's long-term growth and sustainability.