The Entebbe International Airport

The Entebbe International Airport

Entebbe International Airport back view

The Entebbe International Airport: is the only international airport in Uganda, southwest of the town of Entebbe. Located on the northern shores of Lake Victoria and by road south-west of the central business district of Kampala, the capital city of Uganda. The airport was opened by the British Colonial authorities on 10 November 1951, although it was formally reopened after its facilities had been extended. The Airport lies astride the equator at latitude 00.020 North and longitude 320 East, and has often been described as the “Airport on the Equator”. 

What are the services at the Airport?

Uganda Airlines

  • Flight information

Flight Information display boards and Customer Care desks are conveniently located in the passenger terminal building, basically information can be obtained from boards and screens.

  • Visit to the Airport

Uganda Civil Aviation Authority welcomes visitors to the airport and as a matter of fact several educational school tours are conducted every year. Additionally tours are part of UCAA’s career development for the school-going and for imparting information to the general public, about the aviation industry.

  • Check-in Area and Airlines

Airline regulations require passengers to check in by certain times prior to the departure of a flight. The check in process enables passengers to confirm their respective flight, obtain a boarding pass, possibly select their seat and check in luggage onto a plane. The items needed for check-in counter check in are passport, paper ticket or confirmation number of an online ticket.

  • Online check-in

Some Airlines at the Airport have provided online check-in before arriving at the Airport to speed up the Check-in process. Nevertheless, passengers can check in online starting 24 hours (usually) before departure.

Air operators at the Airport

Scheduled air operators 

Scheduled air operators at Entebbe International Airport

  • African Express Airways
  • Uganda Airlines
  • Brussels Airlines
  • East African Safari Air Express Limited
  • Egypt Air
  • Emirates
  • Ethiopian Airlines
  • Kenya Airways
  • KLM Royal Dutch Airlines
  • Precision Air Services
  • Qatar Airways
  • RwandaAir
  • South African Airways
  • Turkish Airlines
  • Eagle Air
  • British Airways

Nonscheduled operators 

Passengers ready to board one of the planes at Entebbe International Airport

  • Air Serve
  • Asante Aviation
  • Aero Link
  • DHL Aviation (K) Ltd
  • Grand Air Services Ltd
  • Kampala Aero Club and Flight Training Centre (KAFTC)
  • Jobihani Investments Ltd
  • Kampala Executive Aviation
  • Mission Aviation Fellowship
  • Premier Safaris
  • SKA Air & Logistics (U) Ltd
  • Samaritan’s Purse
  • TransAfrik
  • Uganda Air Cargo and Vine Air Ltd.

Departure information

There is no Customs desk on departure at Entebbe International Airport. However, departing passengers are required to present a valid passport or other travel document and completed departure embarkation card to the immigration officer. In the meantime, the officer will ascertain that the traveler obtained the relevant Visa whereby the travel document is duly stamped and returned to the passenger. Otherwise, at all the stages, Airport staff are on hand to provide needed information or desired service.

What are the available facilities at the Airport?

  • Baggage facilities/lost-found and left luggage

Misconnected and lost baggage are reported to the ground-Handling Company office at the arrival hall, or the airline on which the passenger arrived. However, for items lost while at the Airport, a report is made to the Aviation Security Office located on the departures floor. Additionally, passenger handling staff assist the older and disabled people.  There is a Baggage Information display board at each baggage claim belt, although the belt on which your arrival flight number is indicated will deliver your baggage.

  • Airline lounge/Travel clubs

There is a privately managed departure lounge, that renders world-class service in a natural setting, complete with water fountains and beautiful flora. Above all, a TV screen and the internet service add value to the open blue-sky aesthetics, comfort and more. In other words, invitation to the lounges is made by the airline of your choice, depending on the class of travel or your commercial relation with it.

  • Baby changing facilities

Baby Changing facilities are available in the washrooms along the departure transit concourse and Karibuni lounge.

  • Facilities for disabled passengers 

Lifts, ramps, wheelchairs, covered walkways and special walkways are available to assist the older people and the disabled people.

  • Meeting passengers

A meeting point is located just outside the arrival hall on the ground floor and facilities including Customer care desks, restaurants not to mention but a few.

Airport pickup vehicles

  • Car Rental Desks

You can hire a self-driven car on arrival at Entebbe or hire a taxi to your destination.

  • Medical facility

Airport Medical Centre provides emergency treatment and located at the  northern end of the terminal Building and is open 24 hours. In the same way, there is also a Health desk within the Arrivals Hall managed by Clinical and Public Health Staff.

  • Banking and Bureau De change

Commercial banking and Bureau De Change services are available at the Departures and Arrivals level. Without delay, banks and Forex Bureau handle most convertible currencies. Although there are no currency restrictions in Uganda, hard currencies purchased from money dealers should be accompanied with an official receipt.

  • WiFi

Liquid telecom and Airtel provide free wireless internet (WIFI), which can be accessed from various passenger movement areas within the terminal building at the Airport. To phrase it, wireless internet can be accessed by departing passengers and other airport users in the Check-in area, Boarding Lounges and VIP

  • Telephone services

Purchase telephone cards at the mobile telephone booths which also provide other Cellular telephone facilities and services.  Airport intercom service is free of charge. Please ask for assistance at the UCAA Customer Care desk on the Ground Floor in case of need.

  • Shopping

Uganda Duty Free Sales, Transit Duty Free Sales and JIT competitively operate three easily accessible shops on departure. In addition, there are also two Duty Free shops namely Transit Duty Free Sales and Uganda Duty Free Sales at the VVIP facility. Diplomatic Duty Free shop operated by Uganda Duty Free Sales is also located on 2nd Floor in the Passenger Terminal building. 

  • General public shopping

A collection of Ugandan and East African hand-made crafts and gift shops are available on 1st Floor and also in the transit concourse at departure. In the same fashion, there are also a number of items ranging from newspapers, books, safari and leisure wear at the airport.

  • Entertainment

Television screens in the departure concourse and restaurants bring to you both local and international programs.

Security

  • Restricted items

Before you head to the Airport, you should take the time to get familiar with common security rules. Look out for what kinds of identification you may need and basic baggage rules. Some of the restricted items include bleaching substances,  hand grenades, knives of all types, drilling machines, pepper spray, scissors of all types, firearms, razor blade, narcotic drugs and much more.

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