Uganda Airlines Warns of Nairobi Delays as ATC Strain Grows

Uganda Airlines has issued a fresh advisory warning passengers on its Entebbe–Nairobi services to expect possible flight delays, as air traffic control challenges and aviation worker unrest continue to disrupt operations at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in the Kenyan capital.

Advisory Targets Travelers on Entebbe–Nairobi Corridor

According to publicly available travel advisories, Uganda’s national carrier is drawing attention to “air traffic control operational challenges” at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), noting that these issues are affecting flight operations into and out of Nairobi. The airline indicates that the situation could result in delays to its own services operating to and from the Kenyan hub.

Coverage of the advisory indicates that it was issued on Monday, August 31, 2026, after several days of disruption at JKIA. Summaries of the notice shared by regional outlets state that Uganda Airlines is closely monitoring developments and coordinating with aviation and airport stakeholders to limit the knock-on impact on its schedule.

Reports also note that the carrier has apologized to affected passengers and emphasized that maintaining safe and reliable operations remains the priority as the situation unfolds. Travelers are being urged to remain patient as the airline adjusts departure and arrival times to accommodate congestion in Kenyan airspace.

Air Traffic Control Disruptions Linked to Industrial Action

Regional news coverage connects the operational challenges cited by Uganda Airlines to a broader disruption within Kenya’s aviation sector. Reports indicate that a go-slow and strike action by aviation workers, including personnel involved in air traffic control, has slowed operations at JKIA and other Kenyan airports, triggering widespread delays, cancellations and diversions across the network.

Kenyan media describe passengers stranded for extended periods at Nairobi’s main international gateway, with some flights departing several hours behind schedule. Flight-tracking data and airline updates reviewed in local reporting point to departing services routinely experiencing delays of two to three hours, with later departures often pushed back even further as congestion builds.

The Kenya Airports Authority has issued separate public alerts warning of delays affecting some departing flights at its airports and advising travelers to confirm their flight status with individual airlines before heading to the airport. Those statements frame the situation as an ongoing operational challenge and indicate that agencies and carriers are working together to manage capacity and minimize disruption.

Knock-on Effects Across East African Travel Routes

The disruption in Nairobi has had ripple effects across East Africa’s tightly interconnected flight network. According to published regional coverage, airlines using JKIA as a hub or transit point, including Kenya Airways and RwandAir, have faced significant schedule changes, with some services canceled and others rescheduled or heavily delayed.

For Uganda Airlines, delays at Nairobi can affect not only point-to-point traffic between Entebbe and JKIA but also connections for passengers continuing on to other regional and long-haul destinations via the Kenyan capital. Travel advisories and media reports highlight the possibility of missed onward flights and longer layovers for passengers depending on Nairobi as a transfer point.

Reports from aviation-focused outlets suggest that neighboring hubs are also feeling the impact, as passengers rebook or reroute to avoid uncertainty around Kenyan airspace. In some cases, airlines have opted to cancel or temporarily suspend select rotations while the air traffic control situation remains unstable, adding further strain to already busy high-season travel patterns.

What Travelers Should Expect in the Coming Days

While no firm timeline has been given for a full return to normal operations, publicly available updates from airlines and airport operators suggest that disruptions could persist as long as industrial tensions remain unresolved. Uganda Airlines indicates through its advisory that it will continue to provide updates as conditions evolve, signaling that passengers may see rolling schedule adjustments rather than a single, time-bound disruption.

Travel industry reporting recommends that passengers booked on Entebbe–Nairobi flights build in additional time for connections, monitor airline communication channels closely and be prepared for gate or timing changes close to departure. Those traveling for safaris or onward international connections through Nairobi are being encouraged in some coverage to consider more generous buffers between flights than they might normally plan.

For now, Uganda Airlines’ warning underscores the sensitivity of regional air connectivity to operational issues at a key hub such as JKIA. With multiple carriers relying on Nairobi for both origin-and-destination traffic and connections, continued air traffic control challenges in the Kenyan capital are likely to remain a central factor in East African travel planning until a more stable operating pattern is restored.

Implications for Uganda’s Growing National Carrier

The advisory comes at a time when Uganda Airlines has been working to strengthen its regional footprint, with the Entebbe–Nairobi corridor positioned as one of its most important short-haul routes. Industry coverage notes that sustained operational irregularities on such a key sector can affect customer confidence, particularly among business travelers and tour operators who rely on predictable timing.

Commentary in regional business media suggests that, although the current disruption originates in Kenya’s aviation system, airlines like Uganda Airlines still face reputational and commercial risks when passengers encounter prolonged delays. The carrier’s decision to communicate proactively about the Nairobi situation is framed by analysts as an effort to manage expectations while signaling that safety and regulatory compliance take precedence over on-time performance.

As the situation develops, observers indicate that performance on the route linking Entebbe and Nairobi will be an important indicator of how resilient Uganda Airlines and its regional peers can be when faced with external shocks in neighboring markets. The airline’s handling of rebooking, passenger care and communication is expected to be closely watched by travelers and industry stakeholders alike.

For travelers planning journeys in the coming days, Uganda Airlines’ warning serves as a reminder to track announcements from both airlines and airport authorities and to factor the evolving conditions at JKIA into any time-sensitive itineraries involving Nairobi.

Nile Post coverage of Uganda Airlines advisory

ChimpReports article on Nairobi delays and Kenya aviation strike

K24 Digital update on flight delays at JKIA

Standard Media report on Kenya Airports Authority delay warning