Uganda Airlines leases Boeing 737s from Ethiopian Airlines as A330neo remains grounded
May 13, 2026
Uganda Airlines has wet leased the first of two Boeing 737‑800s from Ethiopian Airlines as the carrier works to stabilise operations following months of fleet disruption caused by grounded long-haul aircraft.
The arrangement comes after engine-related maintenance issues temporarily removed both of Uganda Airlines’ Airbus A330-800neos from service earlier this year, severely disrupting the airline’s international network.
With only seven aircraft in its fleet, including two A330-800neos, one Airbus A320-200 and four Bombardier CRJ-900s, Uganda Airlines has limited resilience when aircraft become unavailable.
Uganda Airlines adds Boeing 737-800s from Ethiopian Airlines
Local media reports say the agreement with Ethiopian Airlines will see two Boeing 737-800s join Uganda Airlines’ fleet under a wet lease arrangement.
The first, registered ET-APL, arrived at Entebbe Airport on Tuesday, 12 May.
Under the wet lease agreement, Ethiopian will provide crew, maintenance and insurance for the leased aircraft.
These leased aircraft are expected to operate on high-frequency regional routes across Africa, including Nairobi, Johannesburg, Kinshasa, and Lagos.
“This partnership with Ethiopian Airlines is a strategic intervention to ensure our passengers enjoy a more reliable and seamless travel experience,” an airline official told local outlet Monitor.
“The extra capacity will specifically target busy routes like Nairobi, Johannesburg, and Lagos, where we have seen consistent growth.”
Grounded A330neos forced Uganda Airlines to rethink operations
Uganda Airlines first turned to Ethiopian Airlines earlier this year after both of its Airbus A330-800neos were withdrawn from service for unscheduled maintenance.
In March, the airline signed a separate agreement to wet lease an Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 787-8 for long-haul operations to London Gatwick and Mumbai.
The aircraft, around 10 years old, is configured with 24 business class seats and 246 economy seats.
The move followed Uganda Airlines’ suspension of some long-haul operations after one A330neo, registered 5X-CRN, was grounded in January for engine-related maintenance.
According to Monitor, the aircraft was expected to return within 12 to 14 weeks but remained grounded in Entebbe at the time of reporting.
The airline’s second A330neo, 5X-NIL, was later withdrawn after a borescope inspection reportedly identified cracks in engine blades, further reducing the carrier’s operational capacity.
As the airline’s only widebody aircraft, the pair were critical to services linking Uganda with London, Mumbai, Dubai and Lagos.
One A330neo has since returned to service, allowing Uganda Airlines to gradually restore some long-haul operations. The Ethiopian Airlines 787 has continued operating selected services intermittently since then.
Ethiopian influence over Uganda Airlines continues to grow
The expanding operational relationship between the two airlines extends beyond aircraft leasing.
Former Ethiopian Airlines Group chairman Girma Wake, who led the company between 2022 and 2023, has since been appointed interim chief executive and consultant to Uganda Airlines.
The Ugandan government said the appointment was intended to address “weaknesses in the leadership and management of Uganda Airlines” following the departure of former CEO Jenifer Bamuturaki.
The growing partnership highlights both the operational fragility of Uganda Airlines’ small fleet and the increasingly important role Ethiopian Airlines is playing in stabilising the carrier’s network during a difficult period.
Featured image: Ethiopian Airlines
