Kenya Airways Targets First Boeing 767F in Q1 2026

Kenya Airways is preparing to introduce its first widebody freighter, with delivery of a Boeing 767-300ERF expected by the end of the first quarter of 2026, as the airline accelerates plans to expand its in-house cargo operations. Speaking to Air Cargo News, cargo director Fitsum Abadi Gebrehawaria said the carrier ultimately aims to transition to larger Boeing 777F aircraft later this decade.

“We may transition with Boeing 767-300 freighters, but under our strategy between now and 2030, we are planning to have three Boeing 777Fs,” Abadi said, outlining a phased approach driven largely by aircraft availability in the global freighter market.

A second Boeing 767 freighter is tentatively scheduled for delivery later in 2026, giving Kenya Airways a small but meaningful widebody cargo fleet. The airline plans to deploy its initial freighters primarily on Asia-bound routes, with Guangzhou and Hong Kong International Airport identified as potential destinations. Due to range limitations, the 767s are expected to require technical stops on these long-haul services.

While Kenya Airways would have preferred to move directly to Boeing 777 freighters—offering greater payload and nonstop range—the airline has been forced to defer those plans because of limited aircraft availability and strong global demand for large widebody freighters. The interim use of the 767F allows the carrier to enter the dedicated widebody cargo market while positioning itself for future upgauging.

The move builds on a long-standing ambition to grow cargo as a core revenue pillar. Former CEO Allan Kilavuka told ch-aviation in October 2025 that the airline was aiming to more than double cargo revenues within five years. While widebody freighters are central to that strategy, Kenya Airways is also evaluating opportunities to expand its narrowbody freighter fleet.

At present, the airline operates four dedicated freighters: two Boeing 737-300SF aircraft and two 737-800SFs. In 2024, the most recent full year of available data, Kenya Airways generated USD 119.2 million in cargo revenues, representing 10.4% of total group revenue. Abadi said the short-term goal is to lift cargo’s contribution to 20%.

Despite these ambitions, Kenya Airways’ freighter operation remains modest compared with regional rival Ethiopian Airlines, which operates a large and diversified cargo fleet, including multiple Boeing 767 and Boeing 777 freighters. Nonetheless, Kenya Airways’ planned entry into widebody freighters marks a significant step in closing that gap and strengthening Nairobi’s role as a regional cargo hub.

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