Uganda Airlines has announced the expansion of its routes to Abuja, Lusaka, and Harare, aiming to strengthen its market position and boost revenue.
The airline revealed the decision on Wednesday, highlighting its goal to enhance fleet utilization. However, some critics have raised concerns about the new destinations being commercially risky grey markets.
According to the East African, the Abuja service is set to launch on September 12, 2024, with Lusaka and Harare routes following shortly after.
The Abuja route will operate twice weekly, while the Lusaka and Harare services will run four times a week in a triangular operation: Entebbe-Lusaka-Harare-Entebbe and Entebbe-Harare-Lusaka-Entebbe.
With these additions, Uganda Airlines’ destinations will increase to 16. “Launching these routes marks the conclusion of our three-year strategic plan and sets the stage for the next phase of our 10-year rolling plan,” said CEO Jenifer Bamuturaki.
In response to concerns about entering what some consider risky markets, Bamuturaki defended the decision: “We aim to bridge geographical gaps and connect East to West, North and South Africa. Our route expansion is guided by feasibility studies identifying underserved routes.”
The airline plans further expansion into West Africa, the Middle East, India, and eventually China and the United Kingdom, using Lusaka and Harare as feeder cities.
Bamuturaki explained, “Entering these markets will help build an efficient regional network that supports Uganda Airlines’ long-haul routes to London, Mumbai, Guangzhou, and Dubai, while strengthening our overall Africa connectivity.”
