Uganda Airlines gears for brisk winter schedule with new A320 lease

November 26, 2024 in Business, Companies, Transport, Travel & Tourism by Editor

Flag carrier Uganda Airlines on Sunday took delivery of a leased A320-200 to shore up operations during the 2024 winter season. The aircraft, leased from Danish owned but Lithuania domiciled ACMI specialist DAT LT on a six month contract, replaces a Global Airways A320-231, registration ZS-GAR,  whose short term lease expired earlier this month.

Uganda Airlines says the 9.3 year old airframe is an interim solution as the carrier works to procure a pair of A320s on more permanent terms. The aircraft will be primarily deployed on services to Kinshasa, Lagos, Johannesburg and Lagos, whose density has posed capacity challenges for the Mitsubishi CRJ-900, four examples of which the carrier owns.

“We are delighted to announce this partnership with Lithuanian Airlines which will support our operations during the hectic festive season. With our expanding network, we have see significant growth in demand. This new lease ensures that we shall have a better match between capacity and demand,” chief executive Jenifer Bamuturaki told 256BN.

Besides better capacity – 156 seats (12C/144Y) the winglet equipped aircraft offers better fuel economy than its predecessor. Mid-term the Ugandan flag carrier intends to secure a pair of A320’s to bridge the gap to delivery of up to four A320neos whose acquisition is being negotiated with Airbus. The long haul fleet, currently composed of two A330-800s, will be supplemented by up to four B787-800 from Boeing.

The carrier has recently faced capacity constraints as it launched three new destinations -Abuja, Harare and Lusaka in an expansion drive that will also see the commencement of services to London Gatwick in Q1 2025 and Jeddah-Riyadh.