Uganda Airlines has placed its first-ever direct order with Boeing, agreeing at the Farnborough International Airshow on 21 July 2026 to buy four 737-8s and four 787-9 Dreamliners to renew and expand the Entebbe-based national carrier's fleet.
A Landmark Order For An East African Carrier
The 737-8s will cover Uganda Airlines' intra-Africa network, seating 160-180 passengers in a two-class layout with a range up to 3,500 nautical miles, enough for East African, wider African and short-haul Middle East and Indian routes. The 787-9s will handle high-demand long-haul services to Europe, Asia and the Middle East, extending the carrier's reach out to about 8,300 nautical miles. Together, the two families promise 20 to 25 percent lower fuel burn than the aircraft they replace.
"This commitment with Boeing marks a defining step in Uganda Airlines' growth journey and in our broader ambition to position Entebbe as a strategic aviation hub for the region," said Uganda Airlines CEO Ato Girma Wake. Boeing's Brad McMullen, senior vice president of Commercial Sales and Marketing, welcomed the airline as "a Boeing customer" for the first time, framing it as "efficiency, range and versatility to help Uganda Airlines strengthen and expand its network".
Growing The Entebbe Hub
Uganda Airlines was revived in 2018 as the successor to a national carrier that shut down in 2001 and today flies a Bombardier CRJ900 regional fleet supplemented by Airbus A330-800neo widebodies to 17 destinations in 13 countries. The Boeing order will steadily replace the Bombardiers on regional routes with 737 MAX 8 economics and layer in 787-9s for long-haul growth to Europe and Asia, alongside training and technical-support commitments from Boeing.
Farnborough 2026 Momentum
The order is one of a string of major Farnborough 2026 announcements. Day two of the show generated $22.1 billion in aerospace deals alone. Related coverage: IndiGo's 1,000-engine LEAP-1A record order, BOC Aviation's 300-engine CFM LEAP deal, Airbus's Wing of Tomorrow flight-test campaign and Turkish Airlines' simulator deal for A350, A321neo and 787 fleets.
Reporting based on coverage from Boeing, Uganda Airlines, PR Newswire, Aerospace Global News and Aviation Source News.