Flights cut as pilot shortage hits Uganda Airlines

The national carrier is now being forced to reduce its flight schedule to cope with the reduced staff.

Jenifer Bamuturaki, the airline's Chief Executive, says they have reduced their daily flights to Juba and Nairobi from three to two.

Airline staff shortage is a persisting global phenomenon, which industry players are blaming on among others, an ageing pilot population, the rise in demand for air travel demand and also stringent training requirements.

For Uganda Airlines, Bamuturaki says, they have so far lost 5 pilots who went into retirement.

She says the airline is having a conversation on the possibility of extending the retirement age of pilots.

“We think that they retire when they are so capable and able to train others. We want that age to be extended,” she said.

The average retirement age for pilots is 65 years.

Uganda Airlines operates 6 aircraft to 13 destinations.

In the meantime, the airline is finalizing plans to lease one more aircraft, while also cutting its schedule to reduce the workload.

The airline is also actively hiring both pilots and flight attendants, from Uganda and externally.

But owing to the limited number of qualified pilots in Uganda, Bamuturaki says they are looking for candidates from the East African Region and other parts of the world.

David Kaweesi, the airline’s Director of Operations, however, denied media reports that Uganda Airlines has started overworking its staff due to the shortage.

He said crews are still operating under the strict global guidelines which require pilots to have a 36-hour rest for every 7 days of work or 60 hours for every 10 days.