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Entebbe Airport in Uganda has seen a continuous influx of travelers, with a daily average of 6,000 passengers recorded over three consecutive months, according to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
Vianney Mpungu Luggya, the Manager of Public Affairs at the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA), revealed that in February 2024, the airport welcomed a total of 177,367 international passengers. This number comprised 93,884 departing passengers and 83,483 arriving passengers.
This means that on average, the airport handled around 6,116 travelers each day. The figure for February 2024 was notably higher than the same period in 2023, with an increase of 39,162 passengers. However, it was slightly lower compared to January 2024, which saw a total of 196,199 passengers.
Luggya highlighted that February 2024 marked the third consecutive month where Entebbe Airport consistently registered over 6,000 passengers daily, a significant increase from the 500 passengers per day during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In December 2023, the airport achieved a new milestone with 198,961 international passengers, setting a record of 6,418 passengers per day, the highest single-day figure in Uganda’s aviation history.
The CAA attributed this surge in passenger numbers to various factors, including increased business travel, the holiday season, and tourism. Remarkably, the total number of passengers in 2023 surpassed pre-pandemic levels, reaching 1,932,000 passengers compared to 1.8 million recorded in 2019.
Since September 2023, Uganda’s aviation industry has demonstrated significant improvement, exceeding global and regional averages following a successful safety audit by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
The government’s efforts to enhance air travel, including the revival of Uganda Airlines, have contributed to the increase in international passengers. Uganda Airlines, which launched flights to several destinations in 2019, is expanding its fleet with the addition of a new Airbus A320 Neo by April 2023, bringing the total fleet to seven aircraft.
According to Jenifer Bamuturaki, the CEO of Uganda Airlines, the airline has received permits to operate new commercial flights to destinations including the Middle East, London, and Guangzhou, in addition to its current routes.
With these developments, Entebbe Airport is poised to become a regional hub for air traffic, offering more options for travelers and further boosting Uganda’s aviation sector.
Source: The Ankole Times