Uganda Airlines Orders 737 MAX 8 and 787-9 at Farnborough

Uganda Airlines (UR) finalized its first direct orders with The Boeing Company on July 21, 2026, securing four Boeing 737 MAX 8s and four Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners at the Farnborough International Airshow to fuel a major network expansion from its Entebbe hub.

In a press release issued during the airshow, Boeing confirmed the eight-aircraft deal, which marks a strategic shift for the African carrier. The acquisition is designed to increase capacity on intra-Africa routes and enable new long-haul services to Asia and Europe, positioning Entebbe International Airport (EBB) as a central aviation hub.

Fleet modernization and network expansion

The four Boeing 737 MAX 8 narrowbodies will feature a two-class configuration accommodating 160 to 180 passengers. With a range of 3,500 nautical miles, the 737-8s are slated to support Uganda Airlines‘ regional network, including expanded services to the Middle East and India.

For long-haul operations, the carrier selected the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. The widebody aircraft offers a range of 8,300 nautical miles, providing the operational capability required to launch direct flights to European and Asian markets. Boeing noted that both aircraft types are expected to deliver a 20 to 25 percent reduction in fuel use compared to older generation airplanes.

Uganda Airlines CEO Ato Girma Wake described the commitment as a defining step in the carrier’s growth journey and broader ambitions for the region.

“The aircraft will strengthen our ability to connect Uganda more efficiently to regional, continental and international markets, while supporting trade, tourism, investment and cargo development,” Wake stated.

Transitioning from leased capacity

Prior to this direct order, Uganda Airlines operated a primary fleet consisting of Airbus A330-800neo widebodies and Bombardier CRJ900 regional jets. To support its operations and evaluate Boeing products, the airline previously wet-leased Boeing 737-800 and Boeing 787-8 aircraft from Ethiopian Airlines (ET), according to reporting by Aviation Week.

The fleet expansion comes at a critical time for the airline’s market share. Aviation Week data indicated that Uganda Airlines’ capacity for the summer 2026 season had decreased by 11.3 percent compared to the summer 2025 season. The injection of eight new Boeing airframes is expected to reverse this contraction and support the airline’s current network of 17 destinations across 13 countries.

Brad McMullen, Boeing Senior Vice President of Commercial Sales and Marketing, welcomed the new customer relationship. He noted that the aircraft will provide the efficiency and versatility needed to expand the airline’s network while establishing a long-term partnership focused on technical excellence and training.

Discrepancies in order volume

The finalized agreement at Farnborough covers eight passenger aircraft, which differs slightly from earlier indications provided by the Ugandan government. In June 2026, government officials issued a statement signaling an impending acquisition agreement with Boeing for 10 passenger and cargo aircraft.

The July 21 announcement did not address the two-aircraft discrepancy. It remains unconfirmed whether the remaining airframes represent unexercised options, dedicated freighter variants yet to be finalized, or if the overall order size was reduced during final negotiations.

AirPro News analysis

We view this mixed fleet order as a highly aggressive growth maneuver for a relatively young flag carrier. By introducing two entirely new Boeing types into a fleet currently built around Airbus and Bombardier products, Uganda Airlines is taking on significant training, maintenance, and operational complexity. However, the strategic logic is clear: the A330-800neo is a niche aircraft, and the 787-9 provides the standard long-haul economics required to compete with regional heavyweights like Ethiopian Airlines and Kenya Airways. The discrepancy between the government’s June announcement of 10 aircraft and the final firm order of eight suggests that dedicated freighter acquisitions may have been deferred to a later date as the airline prioritizes passenger network recovery.

Sources: The Boeing Company