Afghan Government Orders Ariana to Acquire Freighter, Cut Cargo Fees

The Afghan government has directed Ariana Afghan Airlines (FG, Kabul) to acquire a dedicated freighter aircraft and reduce its cargo rates in a bid to strengthen trade and economic activity. Under the new directive, export cargo rates will be set at USD 1 per kilogram, and import rates at USD 0.80 per kilogram. Additionally, the ministries of finance, transport, and aviation will reduce service fees for the airline by 90%.

The measures, approved during a recent cabinet meeting, are designed to improve Afghanistan’s trade efficiency and support local exporters. The government also instructed the state-owned carrier to charter a freighter to transport fresh produce at no profit, while allocating funds for the purchase of two in-house cargo aircraft.

In October, Ariana issued a request for proposals (RFP) for a widebody or narrowbody freighter, including options such as the Airbus A310, Airbus A330, or Boeing 737-800F. The move marks a key step in expanding Afghanistan’s air cargo capacity and improving connectivity for regional exports.

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Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, ch-aviation.com