Uganda Airlines has secured a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner from Ethiopian Airlines under an Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance and Insurance (ACMI) agreement as a temporary measure to resume its suspended long-distance flights. The national carrier arranged the short-term solution following disruptions to its long-haul operations, with the leased aircraft, registered ET-ASI, expected to support international routes while Uganda Airlines addresses maintenance issues affecting its fleet. According to internal communication to Uganda Airlines management, the aircraft will be operated by a 43-member Ethiopian Airlines crew and will position to Entebbe under flight number UR601 using Uganda Airlines’ call sign, “CRESTED”. The arrangement is intended to restore flights to London Gatwick after Uganda Airlines’ two Airbus A330 aircraft, the only long-haul jets in its fleet, were grounded due to unscheduled maintenance. On February 20, Uganda Airlines announced that the aircraft had been temporarily withdrawn from service, disrupting operations on the London Gatwick, Dubai and Mumbai routes. Industry observers say the airline faced mounting pressure to resume flights to London because failure to utilise allocated landing slots at busy airports such as Gatwick can lead to their forfeiture under the aviation industry’s “use it or lose it” rule. In such circumstances, airlines risk losing valuable slots, which may then be reassigned to competing carriers. The ACMI arrangement, commonly known as a wet lease means Ethiopian Airlines will provide not only the aircraft but also the crew, maintenance and insurance required to operate the flights on behalf of Uganda Airlines. A source familiar with the aviation industry told URN that Uganda Airlines might ideally have opted for a dry lease arrangement, where only the aircraft is hired without crew or operational support, which is typically cheaper. However, the source noted that such an option may not have been feasible because Uganda Airlines pilots and crew may not currently be certified to operate the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, a technologically advanced long-range aircraft. Under the ACMI agreement, Uganda Airlines will cover operational costs associated with the aircraft, including paying the Ethiopian Airlines crew at their standard rates while ensuring the aircraft remains airworthy. The ET-ASI Dreamliner is part of Ethiopian Airlines’ long-range fleet and has been deployed on several international routes. The aircraft is known for its extensive composite construction designed to improve fuel efficiency, and is typically configured with two classes, including the airline’s “Cloud Nine” business class. The leasing arrangement comes at a time of management changes at the national carrier. Amid operational challenges, President Yoweri Museveni ordered the dismissal of Uganda Airlines chief executive Jenifer Bamuturaki and appointed Girma Wake, the former chief executive and chairman of Ethiopian Airlines, as acting CEO and company adviser effective February 16. Uganda Airlines has said it is working to re-accommodate affected passengers by adjusting schedules and rebooking some travellers on alternative carriers where available.The post Uganda Airlines secures Ethiopian Airlines’ Dreamliner to restore long-haul flights appeared first on The Observer.