London Gatwick Debuts World's Longest A330-800 Flight

London Gatwick has achieved a significant aviation milestone by introducing the world’s longest Airbus A330-800 flight. Beginning today, this new route extends the airport’s global reach, offering passengers enhanced connectivity and modern, fuel-efficient travel. The A330-800, known for its improved range and passenger comfort, will service this longer-haul journey seamlessly. This debut underscores Gatwick’s commitment to innovation, sustainability, and expanding its international network, providing travelers with more direct options and a superior in-flight experience.

Uganda Airlines has broadened its global reach by inaugurating its inaugural nonstop service between Entebbe (EBB) and London Gatwick Airport (LGW) on May 18, 2025. This connection is operated with the airline’s Airbus A330-800 widebody jets, positioning Gatwick among a select group of airports to host this uncommon model. Indeed, Uganda Airlines will be the first carrier to fly the A330-800 into Gatwick.

The launch of this European link coincides with growing commercial and tourism exchanges between Uganda and the UK.  In announcing the new service, Uganda Airlines emphasized that better air connections will bolster trade, visitor flows, and investment between the two nations. Bilateral trade between the UK and Uganda reached £860 million (US $1.1 billion) in 2023.

The first flight departed Entebbe International Airport at 9:25 AM local time, touching down at Gatwick at 4:55 PM UK time. Four weekly round-trip services are planned, on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays, with same-day returns. At the time of reporting, the maiden service was en route to London.

Spanning 3,479 nautical miles (6,443 km), the journey exceeds nine hours in duration, making it the world’s longest flight operated by an Airbus A330-800 by time aloft, though it ranks second in distance.  The longest A330-800 route by mileage connects Kuwait to Guangzhou, China, a stretch of 3,496 nautical miles (6,475 km).

Previously, travelers between Entebbe and London endured two or more stopovers, extending their journeys to 14–20 hours.  Uganda Airlines CEO Jenifer Bamuturaki remarked that the new service links Uganda with one of the globe’s busiest hubs and that return schedules are synced to streamline onward connections across their expanding African network.

This venture marks the first-ever A330-800 operation into Gatwick, flying one of the newest and rarest widebody types in commercial use. According to ch-aviation, just eight A330-800s are active worldwide, one retained by Airbus and seven split among Air Greenland (one), Kuwait Airways (four), and Uganda Airlines (two).

These aircraft can cover up to 8,100 nautical miles (15,000 km) and accommodate 258 passengers across business (20 seats), premium economy (28), and economy (210) classes, with an average age of 4.5 years.

Airbus Africa & Middle East President Gabriel Semelas praised Uganda Airlines for its milestone, noting that deploying the A330-800 on this route highlights the type’s efficiency, reliability, and its role in enhancing East Africa’s global connectivity.

Since its 2019 revival, Uganda Airlines has faced financial headwinds, reporting losses driven by the pandemic’s travel slump. In FY 2022/23, the carrier posted a net loss of UGX 324.9 billion (US $88 million), but by FY 2023/24 it reduced that deficit by 26.5%, to UGX 237.8 billion (US $64 million). To improve profitability, the airline has focused on revenue growth and cost control, adding the new London service alongside three recent intra-African routes to Abuja, Lusaka, and Harare.

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Source: simpleflying‍