Uganda Airlines (UR, Entebbe) is working on securing a short-term wet-lease after announcing that its two long-haul aircraft are temporarily out of service due to unscheduled maintenance, resulting in disruption to its intercontinental flights to London Gatwick and Mumbai International, among others.
A well-placed source at the airline confirmed to ch-aviation that management was working on a short-term wet-lease while trying to restore the fleet to service.
The long-haul fleet comprises two A330-800Ns: 5X-CRN (msn 1979) and 5X-NIL (msn 1977). ADS-B data shows that 5X-CRN has been out of action since January 11, while 5X-NIL was grounded at Gatwick on February 20. Both aircraft served the London and Mumbai routes, while flights to Dubai International and Abuja are also impacted.
The airline said affected passengers would be re-accommodated on alternative carriers where possible, or may rebook on future flights without incurring change fees. "In some cases, flights may be consolidated or delayed to ensure operational capacity," it stated. "We are working around the clock to source the required components and technical expertise to return these aircraft to service."
ch-aviation has contacted the airline for more information.
The source also confirmed to ch-aviation that Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni had officially appointed 81-year-old airline veteran Girma Wake as adviser and acting CEO following the dismissal of Jenifer Bamuturaki earlier this month. Wake is a former CEO and chairman of Ethiopian Airlines and former chairman of RwandAir.
No official statement has yet been released, but Wake's appointment has been widely reported in Uganda. The newspaper The Independent reported earlier this month that Bamuturaki had circulated a message to her staff informing them of impending advertising for the post of CEO. This comes as the Uganda Police Force investigates alleged "abuse of office, embezzlement of funds, and false accounting" at the state-owned carrier.
