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Uganda Airlines Boeing 787-9 and 737 MAX-8.
FARNBOROUGH, England—Uganda Airlines has placed its first direct order with Boeing, committing to four 737 MAX-8s and four 787-9s, while Luxair has firmed two additional 737 MAX-10s.
Uganda Airlines plans to use the MAX-8s across its African network and on services to the Middle East and India. The 787-9s will support longer-haul flying to Europe, Asia and the Middle East.
“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,” Uganda Airlines CEO Ato Girma Wake said in a statement released during the air show. “The aircraft will strengthen our ability to connect Uganda more efficiently to regional, continental and international markets, while supporting trade, tourism, investment and cargo development.”
Uganda Airlines serves 17 destinations in 13 countries from Entebbe International Airport. The new aircraft are intended to provide additional capacity and improve fleet resilience while allowing the carrier to open routes beyond the range of its existing fleet.
CAPA Fleet Database lists six aircraft in active service with the carrier, including three Bombardier/MHI RJ Aviation CRJ900s and one Airbus A330-800. Uganda Airlines is also using a 737-800 and 787-8 wet-leased from Ethiopian Airlines. One A330-800 and one CRJ900 are listed as inactive.
OAG Schedules Analyser data show Uganda Airlines remains the largest operator from Uganda by departure seats, offering approximately 231,000 seats during the summer 2026 season and accounting for 23.1% of the market. However, the carrier’s capacity is down 11.3% from summer 2025, while overall departing capacity from Uganda has fallen 7.1% to about 999,000 seats.
The Farnborough Airshow announcement followed a June statement from Uganda’s government that the airline had reached an aircraft acquisition agreement with Boeing covering 10 passenger and cargo aircraft.
Separately, Luxembourg flag carrier Luxair converted two options for the 737 MAX-10 into firm orders and secured purchase rights for two more. The agreement doubles Luxair’s firm -10 order to four aircraft, following an initial commitment for two in 2024.
“This agreement represents another important milestone in the execution of our long-term fleet strategy,” Luxair CEO Gilles Feith said in a statement released at the show. “The Boeing 737 MAX-10 provides the additional capacity, operational efficiency and flexibility we need to support future demand while maintaining the high standards of quality, comfort and service our customers expect from Luxair.”
Luxair plans to configure the -10 with 213 seats, deploying the higher-capacity aircraft on dense leisure and business routes. The airline accounts for approximately 1.25 million seats from Luxembourg in summer 2026, up 12.2% from summer 2025. Its market share has increased from 53% to 55.1%, ahead of Air Dolomiti, EasyJet, Lufthansa and Ryanair.
CAPA Fleet Database lists 25 aircraft in service with Luxair, including three 737 MAX-8s, three 737-700s, four 737-800s, 11 De Havilland Canada Dash 8-400s and four Embraer E195-E2s.
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