Uganda Airlines has secured a wet-lease of an Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner to restore its disrupted long-haul operations, after the grounding of two of its Airbus A330 widebody aircraft left its most strategic international routes in jeopardy.
What Happened
The wet-lease of an Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 787-8 aims to restore Uganda Airlines’ disrupted long-haul routes to London, Dubai, Mumbai, and Lagos, following the grounding of its two Airbus A330s.
A wet-lease means Ethiopian Airlines will provide not just the aircraft but also the crew, maintenance, and insurance allowing Uganda Airlines to keep its schedules intact while it addresses the situation with its own fleet.
Why This Matters
Uganda Airlines only launched its London Gatwick route in late 2025 the airline’s first-ever European service. Losing the route so quickly after launch would have been a major blow to the carrier’s ambition and its relationship with the UK market.
Read Also: Uganda Tourism 2026: Why the Pearl of Africa Is Betting Big on Belgium’s Booming Travel Market
The arrival of Uganda Airlines at Gatwick gave the airport nine long-haul routes to Africa. London Gatwick’s Chief Commercial Officer Jonathan Pollard noted:
“The African market has been phenomenally successful for us. This year, we will have over 555% more capacity from the UK to Africa than pre-Covid.”
The Bigger Fleet Picture
The Ugandan government intends to order two Boeing 787s from Boeing for delivery between 2029 and 2030 to meet the airline’s long-term long-haul requirements. For now, the Ethiopian wet-lease buys the airline the time it needs to stabilise.
Uganda Airlines’ ability to quickly secure a replacement aircraft demonstrates growing operational maturity even as its path to profitability remains a work in progress.
