After the success of its cargo-only flights during the COVID-19 outbreak, Kenya Airways Cargo intends to expand its freighter fleet.
The airline is planning to add two B737-800Fs to its existing short-haul freighter fleet of two B737-300Fs. With the potential to carry roughly 20 tonnes to destinations in the Middle East, India, Turkey, and southern Europe, the new freighters have a greater range and can travel further afield than the old freighters.
According to Kenya Airlines’ cargo director, Dick Murianki, who spoke on the sidelines of the Air Cargo Africa event in Johannesburg, the airline created a client base during the COVID-19 pandemic that is hungry for more, particularly in the Middle East and India.
Later that day, the airline’s chief executive, Allan Kilavuka, claimed that two B787-9 Dreamliners had been utilised on cargo-only flights to long-haul destinations in China and Europe during the pandemic, with each aircraft capable of carrying roughly 50 tonnes per flight. He said that outward volumes were far higher than inbound during the cargo-only operation, but there may be a possibility to use Nairobi as an import hub for the rest of Africa.
As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been an increase in air freight demand, as passenger flights had been severely decreased due to travel restrictions. Freight carriers have stepped in to satisfy the need, transporting medical supplies, perishable foods, and other necessities using their freighter fleets. Kenya Airways Cargo’s freighter fleet expansion is a strategic move to capitalise on the increased demand for air cargo as the airline seeks to expand its cargo operations.
When compared to bellyhold operations, freighters enable carriers to operate long-haul flights to airports where passenger demand is insufficient to justify the use of larger aircraft.
The success of cargo-only operations during the pandemic has shown the potential for future expansion of air cargo services, and the investment in additional freighters will allow Kenya Airways Cargo to establish itself as Africa’s premier provider of air cargo services.
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