Uganda Airlines has entered into an interline partnership with Air India that became effective August 25, 2024, creating new travel routes between Africa and the Indian subcontinent. 

The agreement allows passengers to book single tickets for travel from Entebbe International Airport to more than 25 destinations across India through Air India’s Mumbai hub. Uganda Airlines customers can now access Air India’s network, while Air India passengers gain connections to African destinations through Uganda’s national carrier.

Air India passengers traveling through Mumbai or Dubai can connect to Uganda Airlines flights to reach Entebbe, with onward connections available to South Africa, Nigeria, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Zambia, and other African countries through Uganda Airlines’ regional network.

“We are excited to launch this partnership with Air India, an iconic brand in global aviation,” said Jenife4 Bamuturaki, CEO Uganda Airlines. “This interline agreement is a significant step in our strategy to connect Uganda to Africa and beyond. It provides our customers with a smooth, single-ticket travel experience to dozens of new destinations, strengthening economic and cultural ties between our regions.”

The partnership opens access to major Indian cities including Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata, and Hyderabad, as well as international destinations such as Bangkok, Colombo, Dhaka, London Heathrow, and Singapore. 

Uganda Airlines, revived as the national carrier in 2019, operates a modern fleet including Airbus A330neos and CRJ900s. The airline has been recognized five times as having Africa’s youngest fleet by CH-Aviation and serves destinations across Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and Europe.

Air India returned to Tata Sons ownership in 2022 after 70 years under government control. The airline group, which includes Air India Express, employs more than 30,000 people and operates over 300 aircraft serving 55 domestic and 45 international destinations across five continents. In 2024, the company merged sister airlines Air Asia India and Vistara into its operations as part of an ongoing transformation program.

The partnership represents an expansion of connectivity options for travelers between the two regions, though the practical impact on passenger volumes and route development remains to be seen.

By ChimpReports