Safarilink Aviation has expanded its regional schedule with the introduction of new afternoon flights between Nairobi and Entebbe, strengthening air links between Kenya and Uganda, and increasing frequency on one of East Africa’s steadily growing business and leisure corridors.
The additional service, which took effect on 6 February 2026, operates four times weekly and complements the airline’s existing morning rotations. Both the morning and afternoon flights route through Kisumu International Airport, positioning the western Kenyan city as a key transit point for cross-border air travel between the two countries.
Dual Daily Connectivity Between Nairobi and Entebbe
Under the revised schedule, travellers now have access to two daily connection windows — a morning and an afternoon option — allowing greater flexibility for same-day business travel, tourism itineraries, and regional trade movements.
The morning schedule, which continues to operate daily, follows a circular routing from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) to Kisumu, onward to Entebbe, and back through Kisumu to Nairobi. Departures from Nairobi begin at 08:00, arriving in Kisumu at 08:45, before continuing to Entebbe at 09:45 and landing at 10:30. The return leg departs Entebbe at 11:15, arriving in Kisumu at 12:00, and proceeds to Nairobi at 12:45, touching down at 13:30.
The newly introduced afternoon rotation mirrors the same routing but operates four times a week — Friday through Monday. Afternoon departures leave Nairobi at 15:30, reach Kisumu at 16:15, and continue to Entebbe at 17:15, arriving at 18:00. The return sector departs Entebbe at 18:45, lands in Kisumu at 19:30, and concludes the journey in Nairobi at 21:00.
Kisumu’s Growing Role as a Regional Transit Node
By structuring the Entebbe service through Kisumu rather than operating a nonstop route, Safarilink reinforces the western Kenyan city’s importance within the regional aviation network. Kisumu has increasingly served as a secondary hub for domestic and cross-border connectivity, particularly for travellers linking western Kenya, northern Tanzania, and eastern Uganda.
The routing also provides added convenience for passengers travelling between Kisumu and Entebbe directly, a segment that has historically relied on longer overland journeys or indirect air connections through Nairobi.
Terminal Operations and Passenger Advisory
Safarilink confirmed that both Entebbe services will operate from JKIA Terminal 2 until further notice, an operational detail relevant for passengers accustomed to the airline’s Wilson Airport departures for many domestic routes. The use of JKIA aligns the service with international transit facilities, customs processes, and broader interline connectivity for passengers arriving from or connecting to other international flights.
Regional Aviation Demand and Market Context
Air travel between Kenya and Uganda has shown consistent growth over the past decade, driven by increased cross-border trade within the East African Community (EAC), conference and business travel, diaspora movement, and tourism flows to destinations such as Nairobi, the Maasai Mara, Kampala, and Lake Victoria’s surrounding regions.
While larger carriers have traditionally dominated the Nairobi–Entebbe trunk route with jet operations, regional airlines such as Safarilink have increasingly carved a niche through smaller aircraft operations, secondary routing strategies, and schedule flexibility that appeal to corporate travellers and regional commuters seeking shorter airport processing times and more personalised service.
The addition of afternoon flights effectively raises Safarilink’s weekly Entebbe frequency and places it among regional operators expanding capacity in response to recovering intra-African travel demand and growing regional business mobility.
Implications for Business and Leisure Travel
For business travellers, the dual-schedule structure enables same-day return options and improved meeting flexibility across Nairobi, Kisumu, and Entebbe. For leisure passengers, particularly those connecting to safari circuits or lake-region tourism destinations, the additional frequency reduces layover times and broadens itinerary planning choices.
Industry observers note that incremental schedule expansions such as this often signal airlines’ confidence in route performance and passenger demand stability rather than rapid capacity surges, reflecting a measured growth strategy aligned with regional economic trends.
With morning and afternoon windows now available, Safarilink’s Entebbe service becomes one of the more flexible regional offerings linking Kenya and Uganda, further embedding Kisumu’s role in cross-border aviation and strengthening East Africa’s interconnected air network.
