October Sees Highest Passenger Traffic at Entebbe Airport with 183,728 Travelers

ENTEBBE, Uganda — Entebbe International Airport recorded 183,728 international passengers in October 2024, according to Vianney Mpungu Luggya, Manager Public Affairs at Uganda Civil Aviation Authority. This includes 90,762 arriving and 92,966 departing passengers.

The airport handled an average of 5,926 passengers per day in October 2024, up from 5,545 in October 2023. September 2024 saw an average of 6,290 passengers per day.

In cargo, the airport facilitated 1,798 metric tons of imports and 4,027 metric tons of exports in October 2024, totaling 5,825 metric tons, Luggya said.

The growth in passenger and cargo traffic is a positive indicator of the airport’s growing importance as a regional hub.

To accommodate the increasing demand, Entebbe International Airport is set to undergo a major expansion that will double its passenger capacity to 6 million annually by 2033.

According to Fred Bamwesigye, director general of Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA), the expansion focuses on enhancing safety, security, and infrastructure at the airport.

“We are focusing mainly on advancing safety and security in Uganda’s aviation industry, as well as expanding and upgrading facilities for the airport,” Bamwesigye said.

The recently improved terminal building, covering an additional 20,000 square meters, was officially opened in January 2024. It is designed to accommodate the increasing number of travelers, with capacity expected to rise from 3.6 million to 6 million passengers annually by 2033.

The UCAA’s broader development plan includes upgrades to runways, cargo facilities, and other critical infrastructure to support both passenger and freight demands.

The planned expansion aligns with regional trends as East African airports ramp up their capacities. Ethiopian Airlines recently unveiled a new terminal at Bole International Airport, increasing its capacity to 22 million passengers annually.

Among the major airlines that operate Entebbe airport are Ethiopian Airlines, Qatar Airways, Kenya Airways, Emirates, and Rwandair.

The expansion of Entebbe International Airport is a significant step in bolstering Uganda’s aviation infrastructure and improving the country’s connectivity with global markets.