Uganda Airlines returns Airbus A330-800neo to service after months of grounding

Uganda Airlines has brought back one of its long-haul aircraft, the Airbus A330-800neo (registration 5X-NIL), after weeks on the ground due to a technical issue.

The aircraft was withdrawn from service in mid-February when routine maintenance checks detected cracks in its turbine blades. Engineers carried out detailed inspections and repairs before clearing it to fly again.

According to Uganda Airlines, the aircraft has now fully resumed operations. It made its first flight back on April 17, 2026, operating a route to Dubai.

The airline says the return of the aircraft will help restore capacity on its international routes, which had been affected during the downtime.

While 5X-NIL was grounded, Uganda Airlines had to adjust its operations and temporarily leased a Boeing 787-8 from Ethiopian Airlines to maintain its long-haul schedule.

The airline thanked passengers and partners for their patience, emphasizing that safety checks were completed thoroughly before the aircraft was allowed back into service.

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