Entebbe International Airport has reported a remarkable increase in international passenger traffic for the period of January to November 2024, with a total of 2,020,787 travelers. This marks a 17.8% growth compared to the same period in 2023, as disclosed by the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) last Wednesday.
Breakdown of Passenger Numbers
According to Vianney Luggya, UCAA’s public affairs manager, 1,000,563 of the recorded passengers were arrivals, while 1,020,224 were departures. This is a significant rise from the 1,733,133 passengers recorded during January to November 2023 and the 1,417,615 passengers registered in the corresponding period of 2022.
In November 2024 alone, the airport handled 182,932 international passengers, with arrivals and departures almost evenly split at 91,867 and 91,065, respectively. This translates to an average of 6,097 passengers per day.
Growth in Aircraft Movements
The airport also witnessed a 5.6% increase in aircraft movements, with 29,751 flights recorded between January and November 2024, compared to 28,167 in 2023 and 26,511 in 2022. Additionally, overflights over Ugandan airspace rose by 8.2%, totaling 23,052 in 2024 compared to 21,300 in 2023 and 13,862 in 2022.
Decline in Transit Passengers
Despite these positive trends, there was a decrease in transit passengers, with numbers falling to 99,530 in 2024 from 117,604 in 2023 and 101,396 in 2022.
Increase in Cargo Traffic
Cargo volumes also demonstrated robust growth. From January to November 2024, the airport handled 61,393 metric tonnes of cargo, comprising 41,012 metric tonnes of exports and 20,381 metric tonnes of imports. This represents an improvement from the 53,803 metric tonnes recorded in 2023 and the 56,272 metric tonnes in 2022. November 2024 alone accounted for 5,730 metric tonnes of cargo, with exports at 3,703 metric tonnes and imports at 2,027 metric tonnes.
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Key Drivers of Growth
Luggya attributed the increase in international passenger traffic to Uganda’s hosting of major international events such as the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) and G77+ China Summit. He also highlighted the country’s stable economic environment, which has fostered increased international trade.
The rise in commercial aircraft movements was partly driven by new operators entering Ugandan airspace and Uganda Airlines’ expansion of routes to destinations like Abuja, Lagos, and Mumbai.
Conclusion
The sustained growth in passenger and cargo traffic at Entebbe International Airport underscores Uganda’s expanding role as a regional hub for air transport and international trade. With continued investments in infrastructure and strategic route expansion, the airport is well-positioned to maintain its upward trajectory in the coming years.
