Opportunity beckons for unemployed Nigerians as Uganda Airlines needs 80 new pilots, over 200 cabin crew

Nigerian pilots and licenced cabin crew that has remained unemployed for years may have an opportunity to work in neighbouring Uganda, as Uganda Airlines’ planned fleet expansion will create demand for at least 80 pilots and more than 200 cabin crew members as the national carrier prepares to operate new Boeing aircraft.

The Ugandan aviation sector is gearing for fresh opportunities following a recent announcement that Uganda Airlines is set to acquire eight new aircraft from Boeing.

The national carrier, experts say, will need to recruit more pilots and cabin crew to operate its expanded fleet.

Uganda Airlines placed an order for eight Boeing aircraft, including four Boeing 737-8s and four Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners.

The order, which is the airline’s first direct purchase from Boeing, is expected to support the carrier’s expansion across regional and international routes.

Mike Mukula, a veteran player in Uganda’s aviation industry and owner of the Uganda Aviation Academy, says the airline’s fleet expansion would create demand for dozens of skilled aviation professionals.

Up to 80 new pilots, he said, will be needed to operate the new aircraft.

“Uganda Airlines just ordered 8 brand new aircraft from Boeing. These aircraft, at a minimum, require 80 pilots at any given time, meaning 10 pilots per aircraft. That’s a huge demand for pilots in the country,” he said.

Mukula also estimates that the airline would need more than 200 cabin crew members, based on the staffing requirements for each aircraft.

Each aircraft, he said, will need between 24-25 flight stewards and hostesses.

The aviation expert said Uganda’s aviation sector has a huge growth potential, pointing to the staffing levels at major African airlines.

“If you look at Ethiopian Airlines, they have 178 aircraft, and they have a huge pilot crew of nearly 5000 pilots. They have up to 18000 members of the cabin crew,” Mukula said.