Entebbe International Airport registered a strong performance in the first half of 2024, having 226,795 more passengers than it was recorded in the same period of January to June 2023.
This was revealed by Fred Bamwesigye, the Civil Aviation Authority’s director general, during a press briefing on Tuesday, 20th August, about the update on development in the aviation industry at Entebbe International Airport.
Bamwesigye highlighted that the airport recorded half-year figures of 1,069,224 international passengers, 527,692 arriving and 541,532 departing passengers from January to June 2024 compared to a total of 842,429 in the same period of January to June 2023.
“July 2024 recorded a total of 182,494 international passengers, 92,379 arriving and 90,115 departing passengers, an average of 5,886 passengers per day,” he said.
In addition, the director general noted that cargo traffic also saw a significant boost, with a total of 32,794 metric tonnes recorded from January to June 2024, of which exports were 22,380 metric tones and 10,414 metric tonnes of imports compared to a total of 25,951 metric tonnes from January to June 2023.
Bamwesigye also remarked that exports have generally remained higher than imports in the last four years, saying that export cargo grew by 18.9%, while import cargo saw a remarkable 46.2% increase. In July 2024, Entebbe recorded cargo traffic of 4,123 metric tonnes of exports and 1,618 metric tonnes of imports, a total of 5,741 metric tonnes compared to 5,745 metric tonnes in the previous year.
“It is good to see such strong growth in both passenger and cargo traffic. The numbers demonstrate the airport’s importance in fostering international travel, tourism, and trade. We look forward to continuing to serve our passengers and customers with the provision of world-class facilities and services,” the CAA’s director general added.
Aircraft movements were 15,223 in January to June 2024 compared to 14,575 in January to June 2023, reflecting a 4.4% growth, while overflights were 12,359 in January to June 2024 compared to 11,203 in the same period of 2023, reflecting a 10.3% growth.
On the other hand, transit passengers were 53,559 from January to June 2024 compared to 57,469 in January to June 2023, reflecting a decline of -6.8%.
In terms of infrastructure, Mr. Bamwesigye remarked that the project for the upgrade and expansion of Entebbe International Airport is progressing well and is standing at a 92% level of completion overall.
“You may recall that as part of the same project, both runways were already resurfaced, a new 100,000 tones capacity cargo center completed in 2021, and aircraft Aprons, 2, 4, and 5 cargo Apron completed as well. Pending works are on the main Apron 1, which has been expanded, currently at 96%, and the new terminal building connecting to the current terminal, whose works are ongoing and at 65% level of completion,” he noted.
As part of further enhancement of service provision, a new business class facility is currently being erected within the terminal building, and this will be completed by early next year.
Entebbe International Airport is the only international airport in Uganda, located about 6 kilometers southwest of the town of Entebbe, on the northern shores of Lake Victoria, approximately 40 kilometers by the road from Kampala, the capital city of Uganda.
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