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Entebbe Airport in Uganda

Entebbe Airport Guide to Incoming and Outgoing Passengers

Entebbe airport is the only International airport in Uganda. On this site we show you all information about arrivals and departures.Entebbe International Airport (IATA: EBB, ICAO: HUEN) is the principal international airport of Uganda. It is located near the town of Entebbe, on the shores of Lake Victoria, and about 35 km (21 miles) from the capital, Kampala and the main offices of the Civil Aviation Authority of Uganda are located at the airport

Visiting Entebbe Airport

Uganda Civil Aviation Authority welcomes visitors to the airport. Several study/educational tours are conducted throughout the year. The tours are especially part of CAA's career development for the school-going and for imparting information to the general public, about the aviation industry.

Transportation Facilities

There are two categories of transportation facilities at the Airport; Airport taxis and car rentals.

(i) Entebbe Airport Taxis

Commuter taxis marked with a yellow strip are designated for travel to Kampala and beyond whereas the taxis marked with a blue strip are designated to travel up to Entebbe town only which is about 8 kilometers from the Airport. Passengers are advised to use marked vehicles.

(ii) Car Rentals

The following companies provide car hire services and have offices at the Airport.

• Hertz

• Europcar

• Supper Shuttle

• Budget

DEPARTURES, ARRIVALS AND HELP

Entebbe Airport Terminals

There are two terminals. Terminal one serves Scheduled, International and Domestic Passenger and Cargo Airlines. Terminal two (East Port) at the Old Airport is currently used only by adhoc operators and the military. The apron and associated taxiways are used for long term parking of general cargo aircraft.

Flight Information

Information about airport operation is available 24 hours on Tel 320926. Flight Information Display boards and Public Information Desks are conveniently located in the passenger terminal building. Information can be obtained from boards and screens. For detailed information please contact airline offices, passenger handling companies or the information desk on Tel. 256 31/41 353000 ext 3323, 3233, 3286.

Departure information

There is no Customs desk on departure at Entebbe International airport. Departing passengers are required to present a valid passport or other travel document and completed departure embarkation card to the immigration officer. The officer will ascertain that the traveller obtained the relevant Visa.

The travel document is duly stamped and returned to the passenger.Passengers then proceed to the departure-transit concourse for duty-free shopping and refreshments. After the final security formalities, passengers get into the holding-area where one can ascertain their belongings, tickets, passports, traveller’s checks etc.

At all the stages , Airport staff are on hand to provide needed information or desired service.

Check-in Area and Airlines Offices

International Airlines operating at Entebbe include among others Air Burundi, Air Tanzania, British Airways, Cetraca Aviation Service, Egypt Air, Emirates, Ethiopian Airlines, Kenya Airways, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Rwanda Air Express, SN Brussels, South African Airways, Sudan Airways, TMK Air Commuter and Precision Air.

Some of these have offices at the airport. The check-in area is located on the departures floor.

Passenger Airport Service Charge

The airport service charge is included in the cost of the ticket and is collected by the airline.

Baggage Identification

Passenger's name and home address should be inside the baggage, with the name and destination address only on the outside luggage label. Suitcases and bags should be locked. For secured and protected baggage, a Quick-Wrap-Fly service is available at the check-in area for a fee of 4 US Dollars apiece

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. For items lost while at the Airport, report is made to the Aviation Security Office located on the Departures floor. Baggage Tracing office is located at the Arrivals baggage claim area, ground floor on 24 hour basis.Passenger self-help-baggage trolleys are found in the forecourt of departure level, and baggage reclaim area on arrival.

Trolleys are managed by a private company, Ms Lead Focus. There are no portage services at the Airport. Passenger handling staff assist the elderly and disabled. There is a Baggage Information display board at each baggage claim belts. The belt on which your arrival flight number is indicated will deliver your baggage. Contact the baggage tracing office if you cannot find your baggage.

Airline Lounge/Travel Clubs

There is a privately managed departure lounge , the Karibuni . Karibuni, is a Swahili word for "welcome". It renders world-class service in a natural setting, complete with water fountains and beautiful flora. A TV screen and the Internet service add value to the open blue-sky esthetics, comfort and more. Invitation to the lounges is made by the airline of your choice, depending on the class of travel or your Commercial relation with it. Passengers travelling by economy can use the facility at US$15 for every two to three hours.

Entebbe Airport V.I.P Lounge

The VIP lounge is a Government facility. Government officials and the diplomatic community are entitled to VIP lounge services. Prior application and clearance must be obtained from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for special cases.

Child Facilities

Child facilities are not available at the Airport. The Long term development plan of the Airport have however taken care of this area.

Facilities for passengers with special needsLifts, ramps, wheelchairs, covered walkways and help line services are available. Passenger handling staff assist the elderly and the disabled. They also attend to special needs passengers.

Meeting Passengers

A meeting point is located just outside the arrival hall on the ground floor. Facilities including information desks, restaurants etc. are in close proximity and at the service of the waiting or arriving parties.

Entebbe Airport Help Line

Airport user help line is being developed by our IT department and airport operations.

Business Facilities

Posta Uganda on 1st Floor offers photocopy and fax. Various Uganda Telecom (UTL) hotspots are available for Internet Services in the transit concourse.

History of Entebbe Airport

The airport was first constructed in 1928/1929: the first aircraft to use the new airfield were RAF Fairey IIIs of the Cairo-Cape flight which landed on the 900 yards (820 m) grass runway on 17 February 1929.

In January 1932 Imperial Airways began to use Entebbe on their Cape-to-Cairo mail services: at this stage, radio was installed. By 1935, the grass runway surfaces had been replaced by murram. In 1944-45 the main runway (12/30) was asphalted and extended to 1,600 yards (1,500 m).

On 10 November 1951 the airport was formally re-opened after the facilities had been extended further: runway 12/30 was now 3,300 yards (3,000 m), in preparation for services by the de Havilland Comet. Finally, the existing control tower of the “old airport” was constructed in 1957/58.

The current passenger terminal building was constructed in the mid to late 1970s, together with runway 17/35: the old runway 12/30 was shortened to its current length. The Old Entebbe airport is now used by Uganda's military forces and was the scene of a hostage rescue operation by Israeli Sayeret Matkal, dubbed Operation Entebbe, in 1976, after an Arab-German hijacking of Air France Flight 139 out of Tel Aviv.

The scene of that particular rescue was "the old airport", which was recently demolished except for its control tower. In late 2007, a domestic terminal was constructed at the site of the old airport, leaving the "new airport" to handle International flights exclusively. Entebbe International Airport served 720,000 International passengers in 2007. (+10.7% vs. 2006). The unofficial figure of arrivals in 2008 is estimated at 850,000 (+18.1% vs. 2006)

Entebbe Airport is a Cooperative Security Location of the United States military. [ Entebbe airport uses the jetway boarding bridge system.

Caution: one more little tip that may help some people out; do not take pictures of any type of governemnt agency or official and or government buildings. Including police officers. This could get you in trouble.Click here for more information on Travel-guides in Uganda

Departing from Entebbe airport

AIRLINES THAT OPERATE AT ENTEBBE AIRPORT IN UGANDA:

Most Airlines operating at Entebbe International Airport have offices at the Passenger Terminal building. The offices are situated on the 2nd floor at the Departures level

• Air Uganda + 256 (0) 41 4321485

• British Airways + 256 (0) 41 4320288

• Brussels Airlines + 256 (0) 41 4320761 / +256 (0) 752 755766

• Eagle Air +256 (0) 41 4320601

• Egypt Air + 256 (0) 41 4320698

• Emirates Airlines + 256 (0) 41 4341823

• Ethiopian Airlines +256 (0) 41 4320570

• Kenya Airways + 256 (0) 772 792311

• KLM Royal Dutch Airlines + 256 (0) 41 4323715/6

• Skyjet Aviation +256 (0) 774 590637 / +256 775 639060

• South African Airways + 256 (0) 772 767802 / + 256 (0) 31 2263315

• Rwandair Express + 256 (0) 772 614077

CARGO HANDLING AT THE AIRPORT:

DAS Cargo +256 (0) 31 2261453

Kenya Airways +256 (0) 41 4320234 / +256 (0) 39 2779231

South African Airways (handled by SDV Transami Uganda) +256 (0) 41 4320838 / + 256 752 660806 Uganda Air Cargo +256 (0) 41 4321034

FLORIST AT THE AIRPORT:

Crane Florists (Arrivals) +256 (0) 772 693165

FOREIGN EXCHANGE BUREAUS AT ENTEBBE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT:

Jet Set Forex (Arrivals) + 256 (0) 41 4320312

Norfrax Forex (Departures) + 256 (0) 392 825394 / +256 772 228690

INTERNET CAFE AT ENTEBBE AIRPORT:

Easy World (Arrivals) +256 (0) 712 075675

LOST AND FOUND LUGGAGE:

For lost and found luggage and misplaced items please call either of the handling companies below:

DAS Handling: +256 (0) 392 789011 / + 256 (0) 773 505848

Entebbe Handling Services (ENHAS): +256 (0) 41 4321675

If you have lost any items in a taxi, contact the company responsible.

MEDICAL CARE AT ENTEBBE AIRPORT:

Hawa Pharmacy (Departures) + 256 (0) 41 4323324

POST OFFICE FACILITAES AT ENTEBBE AIRPORT:

Posta Uganda (Entebbe Airport Branch) opens between 08H00-12H45 and 14H00-17H00 Monday to Friday. On Saturdays the Post Office is open from 08H00-13H00. It is closed on Sundays. Expedited mail, fax, telephone and postal services are available. The Post Office can be found on the First Floor (Departures Level).

RESTAURANTS & COFFEE SHOPS AT ENTEBBE AIPORT:

Crane Cafeteria (arrivals, Transit Lounge) + 256 (0) 41 4321399

Karibuni (First Class / Business Class Lounge in Departures) +256 (0) 31 2353295

Voyager Bar & Restaurant (departures) + 256 (0) 41 4321670

SECURITY CONCERN AT ENTEBBE AIRPORT:

Please take care not to leave your trolley or baggage unattended at any time. Entebbe International Airport is open 24 hours.

TELECOMMUNICATION NETWORKS:

• Mango (Arrivals)

• MTN (Arrivals)

• WARID (Arrivals)

• Zain (Arrivals)

TOUR OPERATORS AT ENTEBBE AIRPORT IN UGANDA:

If you wish to book a safari and haven’t done so prior to arriving, then please contact one the safari companies that are represented at the airport. Alternatively, please refer to the Tour Operators listed in the magazine.

Let’s Go Tours and Travel +256 (0) 41 4322926

Stemar Tours and Travel +256 (0) 752 803967

OTHER USEFUL NUMBERS AT ENTEBBE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT IN UGANDA:

• Civil Aviation Authority: + 256 (0) 31 2352000

• Customs +256 (0) 41 43533596

• Entebbe International Airport: +256 (0) 41 43530000

• Entebbe Information Desk: +256 (0) 41 4353000 Ext 3323 / 3233

• Flight Information +256 (0) 41 4320926

• Police +256 (0) 41 4321901

Top-Rated Hotels Entebbe Uganda

1. Imperial Golf View Hotel Entebbe

2. Imperial Botanical Beach Hotel Entebbe