Uganda Airlines turns to Ethiopian carrier to revive London route

Uganda Airlines is moving to quickly restore its suspended long-haul services by leasing a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner from Ethiopian Airlines in a temporary arrangement aimed at protecting its prized landing slots at London Gatwick Airport.

The aircraft, registered ET-ASI, was expected to arrive in Entebbe on Thursday, March 5, 2026, under an ACMI agreement—an aviation leasing arrangement in which the provider supplies the Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance and Insurance. The plane will be operated by a 43-member Ethiopian Airlines crew who are scheduled to arrive in Uganda ahead of the aircraft’s deployment.

According to internal communication to Uganda Airlines management, the Dreamliner will position to Entebbe under flight number UR601, using the national carrier’s call sign “CRESTED.”

The short-term lease is intended to enable Uganda Airlines to resume its London Gatwick service after its two long-haul aircraft were grounded by unscheduled maintenance last month.

On February 20, the airline announced that its wide-body fleet had temporarily gone out of service, forcing the suspension of long-distance routes including London Gatwick, Dubai and Mumbai. The disruption left the airline scrambling to find a solution that would allow it to maintain its presence on critical international routes.

Industry analysts say the urgency is largely driven by the need to retain valuable airport slots at Gatwick, one of the busiest airports in the United Kingdom.

Airlines operating at highly congested airports are required to use their allocated take-off and landing slots regularly under the aviation industry’s “use-it-or-lose-it” rule. Failure to operate scheduled flights can lead to penalties, cancellation of future schedules, or reassignment of the slots to competing airlines.

For Uganda Airlines, losing its Gatwick slots would be a significant setback as the London route is considered one of its most strategic long-haul destinations.

The ACMI arrangement—often referred to as a wet lease—allows the airline to quickly restore operations without deploying its own pilots or technical crew.

However, aviation sources say the arrangement may come at a higher operational cost.

A source familiar with aviation leasing arrangements said Uganda Airlines would ideally have opted for a dry lease, where only the aircraft is provided while the airline uses its own pilots and crew.

“Dry leasing is usually cheaper, but in this case it may not have been practical,” the source said.

He explained that Uganda Airlines’ pilots and cabin crew may not currently be certified to operate the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, a technologically advanced wide-body aircraft that requires specialised training and certification.

As a result, Ethiopian Airlines will supply the full operational package—including pilots and technical support—while Uganda Airlines covers operational costs associated with running the aircraft on its routes.

Under the arrangement, the Ugandan carrier will meet crew payments based on Ethiopian Airlines’ pay structure and ensure that the aircraft’s maintenance standards are upheld while it is deployed on Uganda Airlines’ services.

The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, registered ET-ASI, forms part of Ethiopian Airlines’ long-range fleet and has been used on several international routes across Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

The aircraft is known for its fuel-efficient composite design and is typically configured with two travel classes, including Ethiopian Airlines’ “Cloud Nine” business class.

The leasing arrangement comes at a time when Uganda Airlines is undergoing major leadership changes amid operational challenges.

Last month, President Yoweri Museveni directed the removal of the airline’s Chief Executive Officer, Jennifer Bamuturaki, and appointed Girma Wake—the former CEO and board chairman of Ethiopian Airlines—as acting CEO and adviser to the national carrier.

Wake officially assumed the role on February 16 as part of efforts to stabilise the airline’s operations and strengthen management oversight.

Meanwhile, Uganda Airlines says it is continuing to support passengers affected by the recent disruptions.

The airline has been rebooking travellers on alternative carriers where possible and adjusting schedules to accommodate passengers whose flights were cancelled following the grounding of its long-haul aircraft.

With the arrival of the leased Dreamliner, the national carrier hopes to restore confidence among travellers and maintain its foothold on key international routes while its own aircraft undergo maintenance.