Entebbe Airport Mirrors IATA's Projected Global Growth

This recovery comes despite challenges like supply chain delays from aircraft manufacturers Boeing and Airbus, which IATA chief executive Willie Walsh criticised for acting as "quasi-monopolies".

The global airline industry is recovering strongly, with the International Air Transport Association (IATA) projecting record revenues of $1.007 trillion in 2025.

This recovery comes despite challenges like supply chain delays from aircraft manufacturers Boeing and Airbus, which IATA chief executive Willie Walsh criticised for acting as "quasi-monopolies".

The bottlenecks have hindered airlines' efforts to deploy more efficient jets, reduce fuel costs, and expand operations.

While global airlines grapple with these issues, the industry remains on track to achieve a net profit of $36.6 billion by 2025, driven by sustained passenger demand following the pandemic downturn.

Uganda’s Entebbe International Airport reflects this global recovery, experiencing steady growth in passenger numbers and ramping up infrastructure projects.

In October 2024, the airport handled 183,728 international passengers, averaging 5,926 daily—up from 5,545 in October 2023.

These increases are part of broader efforts by the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to meet rising demand.

CAA Director General Fred Bamwesigye highlighted the importance of ongoing upgrades, including the expansion of the passenger terminal, which aims to increase annual capacity from 3.6 million to 6 million passengers by 2033.

“As CAA, both as a regulator and an operator of airports, we are focusing on advancing safety and security in Uganda’s aviation industry, as well as expanding and upgrading facilities for the airport,” Bamwesigye said.

The improvements at Entebbe position Uganda to compete with regional hubs like Ethiopia’s Bole International Airport, which handles 22 million passengers annually.

Cargo operations at Entebbe are also growing, with 5,825 metric tonnes of imports and exports processed in October 2024.

Challenges Ahead

Despite optimism, environmental challenges remain a significant concern. The growing number of flights and passengers worldwide, even with more efficient aircraft, raises questions about the sector’s sustainability.

Matt Finch, an environmental advocate, warned, “If the amount of planes in the sky goes up, emissions will only keep going up more and more.”

However, declining jet fuel prices and Uganda’s investments in safety and infrastructure provide a foundation for sustainable growth.

With its modernized terminal and strategic partnerships with global airlines such as Emirates, Ethiopian Airlines, and Qatar Airways, Entebbe International Airport is positioning itself as a major player in East Africa’s aviation sector.

This aligns with IATA's optimistic forecasts of record-breaking passenger numbers globally, setting the stage for Uganda to benefit from the ongoing recovery in the aviation industry.