The CEO Uganda Airlines, Jenifer Bamuturaki has revealed that the national carrier is set to retire its fleet of Bombardier CRJ 900 jets due to mounting challenges in sourcing spare parts.
Bamuturaki made the revelation while appearing before Parliament’s Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE) noting that the move will see the national carrier phase out its four CRJ 900s, which have been its workhorses for regional routes since the airline’s relaunch.
Bamuturaki explained that the manufacturer, Bombardier, ceased production of the CRJ model after selling its commercial aircraft division to Mitsubishi, leaving a scarcity of spare parts that has made maintenance increasingly difficult and costly.
The airline is now actively considering a replacement fleet of aircrafts that are easier to service and more readily supported by manufacturers.
Bamuturaki’s appearance before the committee was prompted by the Auditor General’s report for the 2023/24 financial year, which revealed a significant loss of Shs 237.8 billion for the airline.
Bamuturaki shocked members of COSACE when she attributed the 237.855billion shilling loss the company made in 2024 on the high costs of fuel, crew allowances and aircraft depreciation
She noted that the CRJ’s operational lifespan for many airlines is typically between 10 to 12 years, and Uganda Airlines is currently holding internal discussions about the timeline for their final retirement.
