Entebbe Airport Traffic Surges in February ahead of Middle East Airspace Restrictions
Entebbe International Airport recorded a significant surge in both passenger and cargo traffic in February 2026, continuing a strong upward trajectory for the year. However, the positive momentum is expected to face headwinds in March following the recent closure of parts of the Middle East airspace.
According to the latest airport traffic update, a total of 189,575 international passengers passed through the facility in February. This figure represents a substantial increase of 39,387 passengers (a 26.2% jump) compared to the 150,186 recorded in January 2026.
The breakdown for February shows a near-even split between departing and arriving travelers, with 99,568 departures and 90,007 arrivals, averaging approximately 6,770 passengers per day.
Year-on-Year Growth
The performance also marks a strong improvement over the same period last year. The February 2026 total is 30,072 passengers higher than the 159,503 international passengers handled in February 2025. In that month last year, the airport recorded 73,524 arrivals and 85,979 departures.
Cargo Performance Remains Robust
On the cargo side, the airport handled a total of 4,498 metric tonnes in February. This was driven by 2,955 metric tonnes of exports and 1,543 metric tonnes of imports. The overall volume represents an increase from the 3,980 metric tonnes recorded in January 2026 and also surpasses the February 2025 total of 4,546 metric tonnes (which comprised 3,157 metric tonnes of exports and 1,389 metric tonnes of imports).
Outlook for March
While the February data highlights sustained growth in air transport activity at Entebbe, authorities caution that the coming months may tell a different story.
“However, with parts of the Middle East airspace closed from February 28, 2026, and only a phased resumption of operations currently underway, several operators from Entebbe have been affected,” the report from Uganda Civil Aviation Authority noted. “As a result, traffic for March 2026 is expected to be lower.”
The disruption is forcing airlines operating out of Entebbe to reroute flights, potentially leading to longer journey times and reduced passenger demand in the immediate future.
