Astral Aviation and Etihad Cargo Launch Freighter Service

Astral Aviation and Etihad Cargo recently launched their inaugural freighter service, marking a significant milestone in Africa-UAE trade.

The inaugural flight departed from Nairobi, Kenya, on March 21, 2024, and landed successfully in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

Mr. Sanjeev Gadhia, CEO of Astral Aviation, emphasised the importance of this partnership, stating, “The new flight will enable the efficient transportation of perishables including flowers, fresh fruits, vegetables and meat from Astral’s hubs in Nairobi and Johannesburg into Etihad’s Abu Dhabi hub and onto their network.”

In a statement Astral Aviation further highlighted that the collaboration extends beyond the freighter service: Starting May 1, 2024, Etihad Cargo will offer additional belly capacity on daily passenger flights to Nairobi.

In addition, they operate a separate weekly freighter service that connects Nairobi to Amsterdam via Abu Dhabi.