Uganda Airlines recruits pilots

What the report says

Uganda Airlines is recruiting Boeing 737 captains and first officers as it prepares to move from wet-leased aircraft to dry leases, according to The Independent Uganda. The carrier is also hiring country managers for Rwanda and West Africa as it readies new regional services. The airline’s current Boeing 737-800 has been operating under a wet lease from Ethiopian Airlines since May, with the transition expected to help Uganda Airlines lower leasing costs and gain more control over operations.

The report said the airline is building flight-deck capacity ahead of the expected arrival of Boeing 737 Max aircraft. People familiar with the plans said Uganda Airlines wants its own pilots in place by November, when the present wet-lease arrangement is expected to end. Under a dry lease, the aircraft would still be sourced from Ethiopian Airlines, but Uganda Airlines would supply its own crew. The piece also noted that civil aviation rules limit wet leases to six months, making the change a significant operational step.

The recruitment comes alongside broader network changes aimed at improving connections across the airline’s regional and long-haul routes. The Independent Uganda said flights to Accra are planned for October 27, followed by Kigali on November 19. It also reported schedule changes on routes including London, Harare-Lusaka, Johannesburg and Nairobi as Uganda Airlines seeks to strengthen passenger feed for onward travel.

In a separate note of aviation-sector activity, the article mentioned recent progress by cadets at the East African Civil Aviation Academy in Soroti, reflecting wider efforts in Uganda to expand aviation skills and training.