Uganda Airlines Registers Increase In Commercial Aircraft Movements Due To New Air Routes

The Uganda Airlines has registered an increase in Commercial aircraft movements due to new air operators joining the Ugandan airspace .

According to Vianney Luggya Mpungu  the Civil Aviation Authority spokesperson,the opening of new routes by Uganda Airlines to Abuja, Lagos, and Mumbai, is another factor for the tremendous increase in movements.

"In November 2024, Entebbe International Airport recorded a total of 182,932 international passengers (91,867 arriving and 91,065 departing passengers), an average of 6,097 passengers per day. The period between January to November 2024 registered a total of 2,020,787 international passengers (1,000,563 arriving and 1,020,224 departing passengers) compared to a total of 1,733,133 international passengers in the same period of January to November 2023 and 1,417,615 international passengers in January to November 2022".He said.

 The January to November 2024 traffic reflects a 17.8% growth. There was a 5.6% growth in relation to aircraft movements with 29,751 recorded in January to November 2024 in comparison to 28,167 in the same period of 2023 and 26,511 in January to November 2022. Overflights over Ugandan airspace recorded an 8.2% growth with 23,052 registered in January to November 2024 compared to 21,300 in January to November 2023 and 13,862 in the same period of 2022.

Transit passengers slightly reduced to 99,530 in January to November 2024 compared to 117,604 in January to November 2023 and 101,396 in the same period of 2022.

 "In relation to cargo, there was a rise in figures as January to November 2024 registered a total of 61,393 metric tones (41,012 metric tones of exports and 20,381 metric tones of imports) compared to 53,803 metric tones in January to November 2023 and 56,272 metric tones in the same period of 2022. November 2024 recorded a total of 5,730 metric tones of cargo (3,703 metric tones of exports and 2,027 metric tones of imports)". He adds.

The growth in the number of international passengers is due to a number of factors, including tourism, Uganda’s hosting of a number of international events like the Non Aligned Movement (NAM) and G77+ China Summit, in addition to a stable economic environment resulting into increased international trade. He said.