Why British Airways Suspended the Heathrow–Entebbe Flight

British Airways’ decision to suspend direct flights between London Heathrow and Entebbe in October 2015 was a major change in air connectivity for Uganda. The official explanation is that the route was no longer commercially viable. The airline said after reviewing its schedules that the route consistently failed to meet its targets.

In particular, despite having increased the number of weekly flights over the years, BA found the demand and yield weren’t strong enough to sustain profitability. Operating costs, including airport and handling tariffs in Entebbe, were cited among the pressures. Also, competition from Middle Eastern carriers with indirect routes—but sometimes cheaper or more convenient connections—was a factor, making it harder for BA to fill seats at profitable rates.

Another contributing issue was that trade and cargo volumes on the route had not grown to offset costs. While tourism is a key inbound sector, it appears that for this route, it didn’t provide sufficient volume compared to other routes. Additionally, fluctuating external factors such as fuel costs, currency rates, and operational overheads likely played roles, though these were not always publicly quantified.

For travellers, BA offered full refunds or alternate travel arrangements when the route was closed. The suspension left gaps in direct connectivity between the UK and Uganda, meaning people now often need to fly through transit hubs rather than having a non-stop option.