Southern African airline, Airlink recently announced that its Johannesburg-Entebbe route has been stopped. Here’s why…
Airlink halts route
Airlink recently removed one of its routes from circulation, flying from Johannesburg, South Africa to Entebbe, Uganda.
According to Travel News, the airline said it effectively withdrew from the route as of 24 August 2023, with CEO and Managing Director, Rodger Foster, attributed the move to commercial non-viability of the route due to thin traffic volumes.
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“Prior to COVID, Airlink operated the Johannesburg-Entebbe route exclusively six times week with sustainable viability. In September 2021, after Uganda and South Africa re-opened their markets for intra-African travel, Airlink resumed services with four flights a week on the route. Despite best efforts to promote traffic between the two cities, the post-COVID demand in both directions has remained weak and traffic volumes are too thin to support competing airlines.” Foster said via Travel News.
Foster went on to add that they would monitor the market and will be ready to return to serving the route when traffic volumes can sustain two competing airlines.
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Uganda to South Africa with Uganda Airlines
Travellers should worry not, however, because earlier this month, Uganda Airlines began offering more flights from Johannesburg to the Ugandan city of Entebbe.
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With the re-addition of its Wednesday flight, the airline now officially services the route five times a week.
The reinstated Wednesday flight goes out from Entebbe at 16:20 and arrives in Johannesburg at 19:35. The return flight to Entebbe departs Johannesburg at 20:35 and arrives in Uganda at 01:50.
