Uganda Airlines has announced the lease of a mid-range Airbus A320-200 from DAT, a Lithuanian airline, to strengthen its operations during the busy winter season.
The short-term wet lease, which includes pilots and cabin crew, aims to address capacity challenges and enhance the airline’s regional and international service offerings.
The leased aircraft, a 9.3-year-old Airbus A320-200, will supplement Uganda Airlines’ CRJ and A330 fleets, providing additional capacity while other aircraft undergo routine maintenance.
According to the Uganda Airlines Chief Executive Officer, Ms. Jenifer Bamuturaki, the lease will alleviate congestion on routes such as Johannesburg and Kinshasa and bolster services to key destinations like Nairobi, Lagos, and Abuja.
“We are delighted to announce this partnership with Lithuanian Airlines, which will support our operations,” said Ms. Jenifer Bamuturaki.
She added, “With the previously leased aircraft, we have seen significant growth in demand across our network. With the new lease, we shall continue to increase capacity deployment for the number of seats on specific routes to sustain this demand.”
The 156-seater aircraft offers a two-class cabin configuration, with 12 business class and 144 economy seats, along with enhanced capacity for passenger baggage and cargo. Uganda Airlines emphasized that the additional capacity is crucial for the festive season, which traditionally sees a spike in leisure and business travel.
“Leasing this A320 is intended to cushion the operation, especially in the festive season, as travel tends to spike due to leisure and business travel,” Ms. Bamuturaki explained. “We also look forward to enhanced cargo freighting for our customers.”
Established in 2019, Uganda Airlines is Uganda’s flagship national carrier, offering passenger and cargo services within Africa and to select international destinations. The airline’s vision is to be “the Airline of Choice for The Business and Leisure Traveller.”
Travelers and businesses are encouraged to take advantage of the increased capacity as Uganda Airlines continues to expand its footprint in the region.