Uganda Airlines wet-leases A320 after South Africa setback

We embarked on a new process as Uganda Airlines wet-leases A320 after South Africa setback for the winter schedule starting mid-November

CEO Jenifer Bamuturaki told ch-aviation on the sidelines of the 56th African Airlines Association (AFRAA) annual general assembly in Cairo, Egypt, that Uganda Airlines’ short-term wet-lease of Global’s A320-200, ZS-GAR (msn 53), ended in October

Under Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) regulations, wet-leases are limited to six months.

The ACMI ended as per regulations boosting tourism in uganda.

The South African Civil Aviation Authority earlier this year delayed the deployment of the aircraft on the Johannesburg route, requiring an amendment to Uganda Airlines’ operating permit, even though the South African-registered aircraft was operated by a South African ACMI specialist.

The A320 wet-leases are a short-term capacity-crunch solution pending the planned dry-lease in June 2025 of two A320jets.

Mixed widebodies

The Ugandan carrier also intends to order two B787 widebodies from Boeing for its long-term long-haul requirements boosting tourism.

The airline has ascribed the surprising switch to Boeing widebodies to inernal reasons for more engine options which the A330 was not providing at present.” The order, pending finalisation and financing from the Ugandan Ministry of Finance.

According to ch-aviation research, the A330s have been underutilised, failing to meet the minimum monthly flying hours. .

Instead of flying long-haul routes as planned, the aircraft is deploying on short regional flights, resulting in more cycles.

The lack of sufficient flying hours led to a shortfall in earnings and arrears in agreed monthly engine fees.

Compiled by

World Travel News, Gorilla Trekking Uganda and Gorilla Trekking Rwanda