✈️ Business Aviation Traffic at Entebbe Plummets as Kigali Quietly Assumes East African Hub Role
Avi-Go data shows that HUEN (Entebbe International Airport) recorded only 107 business aviation movements between January and May 8, 2026, a sharp contraction from 583 movements during the same period in 2025, representing a year-on-year decline of 81.6%. On a month-by-month basis, March saw the steepest drop, falling 90.2% year-on-year (from 123 movements to just 12), with all other months also posting declines exceeding 70%. Meanwhile, HRYR (Kigali International Airport) saw movements edge up from 74 to 81 over the same period, a year-on-year increase of 9.5%, with April alone recording a month-on-month surge of 136.4%. The gap between the two airports narrowed dramatically, from 509 movements in 2025 to just 26 movements in 2026. As reported by Aviation Week on April 21, 2026, overall passenger traffic at Entebbe has come under pressure from disruptions linked to Middle East tensions; however, a decline of this magnitude in business aviation far exceeds what any single factor can explain. Changes in data collection methodology, adjustments to Uganda's local operating policies, or a structural withdrawal by operators are all potential contributing factors. No public information has yet confirmed the entry of new FBOs or operators at either airport.
Impact: The precipitous drop in business aviation traffic at Entebbe poses a substantive challenge to its standing as East Africa's primary business aviation hub. While Kigali's continued growth remains modest in absolute terms, its relative resilience has drawn market attention to a potential shift in the center of gravity for East African business aviation traffic, placing ground handlers and contracted operators under pressure to manage the redistribution of their client bases.
Recommendation: Operators and FBO service providers with East African operations are advised to proactively verify the actual operational status and regulatory environment at Entebbe before June 2026, while simultaneously assessing the feasibility of increasing ground support resources in Kigali. For brokers with East African routing plans, now is the time to incorporate Kigali as an alternative hub option in order to hedge against scheduling risks arising from uncertainty at Entebbe.