KLM has activated a rare global travel alert after a security situation in Entebbe forced the carrier to cancel or reroute flights between 17 and 19 January. The notice—published on the airline’s Australian website—offers free rebooking or refunds for tickets touching Uganda during the affected window. Travellers must finalise changes by 26 January and complete new travel by that date. (visahq.com)
While the disruption centres on East Africa, it has immediate implications for Australian government contractors, NGO staff and mining personnel who normally hub through Amsterdam or Gulf gateways before continuing to Uganda’s oil and infrastructure projects. Traveller-risk firms say corporates should consider alternative routings via Nairobi or Addis Ababa until normal operations resume.
In the meantime, travel administrators scrambling to reroute staff can lean on VisaHQ’s Australian team (https://www.visahq.com/australia/) to fast-track any new visa requirements that pop up—whether that means a rushed transit visa for Kenya, an Ethiopian e-Visa or an updated Schengen stamp for an extended stop in Amsterdam—without juggling multiple embassy appointments.
![KLM Issues Free Rebooking for Australians After Entebbe Security Incident]()
The incident comes on top of winter-weather delays at Amsterdam Schiphol, making seat availability tight. Mobility managers are advised to track stranded employees through traveller-tracking platforms, verify that medical-evacuation policies include Uganda and ensure assignees carry printed e-Visa approvals and yellow-fever certificates to expedite border clearance once they arrive.
KLM says it is “working around the clock” to restore schedules once the local security situation stabilises. Companies with time-critical rotations may need to extend on-site shifts or reallocate tasks to locally based teams to keep projects on track.
VisaHQ’s Australian portal notes that Uganda e-Visas can still be issued within 48 hours, but recommends allowing extra buffer days while flight options remain fluid.
While the disruption centres on East Africa, it has immediate implications for Australian government contractors, NGO staff and mining personnel who normally hub through Amsterdam or Gulf gateways before continuing to Uganda’s oil and infrastructure projects. Traveller-risk firms say corporates should consider alternative routings via Nairobi or Addis Ababa until normal operations resume.
In the meantime, travel administrators scrambling to reroute staff can lean on VisaHQ’s Australian team (https://www.visahq.com/australia/) to fast-track any new visa requirements that pop up—whether that means a rushed transit visa for Kenya, an Ethiopian e-Visa or an updated Schengen stamp for an extended stop in Amsterdam—without juggling multiple embassy appointments.
The incident comes on top of winter-weather delays at Amsterdam Schiphol, making seat availability tight. Mobility managers are advised to track stranded employees through traveller-tracking platforms, verify that medical-evacuation policies include Uganda and ensure assignees carry printed e-Visa approvals and yellow-fever certificates to expedite border clearance once they arrive.
KLM says it is “working around the clock” to restore schedules once the local security situation stabilises. Companies with time-critical rotations may need to extend on-site shifts or reallocate tasks to locally based teams to keep projects on track.
VisaHQ’s Australian portal notes that Uganda e-Visas can still be issued within 48 hours, but recommends allowing extra buffer days while flight options remain fluid.
