Uganda Airlines has launched discussions with aircraft lessors to secure two Airbus A320-family jets on dry lease, with deliveries slated for February 2026, according to an internal memo issued earlier this month.
The state-owned carrier, re-established in 2019, currently operates a fleet of four Bombardier CRJ900s, two Airbus A330-800neos, and one A320-200 (OY-RUY, MSN 6733) on wet lease from Danish Air Transport (DAT).
The planned addition of two narrowbody aircraft, originally scheduled for mid-2025, is intended to ease capacity constraints, support route expansion, and enhance operational efficiency. Uganda Airlines is evaluating both the A320neo/A321neo (powered by CFM LEAP engines) and the A320ceo/A321ceo (with V2500 engines), with a preference for sourcing both aircraft from a single lessor. The airline is seeking A320neos under nine years old or A320ceos no older than 15 years.
Proposed cabin layouts include 12 Business and 153 Economy seats on the A320, and 16 Business and 190 Economy seats on the A321. Requirements also specify heated and ventilated cargo holds. Lease durations under review range from two to eight years, depending on aircraft age.
In parallel, Uganda Airlines has issued an international tender—open until 2 October 2025—to appoint a consultancy firm or consortium to provide technical, legal, and financial advisory services for the acquisition process.
The initiative is part of the airline’s long-term growth strategy, which centers on strengthening its medium-haul network alongside its A330-800neos deployed on long-haul services. Fleet renewal plans also include a firm order for four A320neos and two Boeing 787 Dreamliners scheduled for delivery between 2029 and 2030.
Uganda Airlines currently flies to 17 destinations across Africa, the Middle East, India, and the UK, operating about 158 weekly flights and offering more than 28,000 weekly seats. Its network includes Abuja, Bujumbura, Mumbai, Dar es Salaam, Dubai, Kinshasa, Harare, Johannesburg, Kilimanjaro, Juba, Lagos, Lusaka, Mombasa, Mogadishu, Nairobi, Zanzibar, and Entebbe, with future expansion to China and the Far East under consideration.
Source: News Aero
