Uganda Airlines has announced the launch of scheduled direct flights between Entebbe International Airport and London Gatwick, marking the national carrier’s first route into Europe. The new service is set to commence on 18 May 2025, with four weekly nonstop flights scheduled for Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday. All flights will operate at night, except for the Sunday departure, which is scheduled in the morning.
This milestone re-establishes a direct air link between Uganda and the United Kingdom after nearly a decade, enhancing Uganda Airlines’ connectivity and expansion into the European market. The new service is expected to strengthen trade, tourism, and investment relations between the two nations.
The UK remains a significant tourism source market for Uganda. According to the Annual Performance Report for the Financial Year 2023/24 by the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, the United Kingdom ranked as Uganda’s third-largest overseas tourism source, accounting for 11,069 tourist arrivals—representing 8.8% of total international visitors.
The Entebbe–London route has been historically underserved. Uganda Airlines’ entry is poised to provide a more convenient travel option, reducing journey times from approximately 16 hours to just 9 hours.
Flights will be operated using the Airbus A330-800neo, offering a modern onboard experience for passengers. The schedule also enables seamless onward connections across Uganda Airlines’ African network, with key destinations including Harare, Lusaka, Nairobi, Lagos, Abuja, Juba, Mogadishu, Kinshasa, Mombasa, Bujumbura, Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar, Kilimanjaro, Johannesburg, and the soon-to-be-launched Accra route.
Uganda Airlines has also confirmed that it’s not just passengers who will benefit from this new route, but also its cargo business, which will now be able to offer a more efficient air freight solution.
The official launch event took place on 20 March 2025 at the Sheraton Hotel in Kampala, Uganda, where Uganda Airlines reaffirmed its commitment to enhancing air connectivity and meeting growing demand for direct travel between Uganda and the UK.
