Kenya’s Astral Aviation, Etihad Cargo ink MOU

As a part of its strategy to expand its network globally, Astral Aviation (8V, Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for capacity sharing with Etihad Cargo, the cargo and logistics arm of Etihad Airways (EY, Abu Dhabi International), for flights between Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta, Kenya and Abu Dhabi International in the United Arab Emirates.

According to a joint statement, the agreement will see Astral Aviation and Etihad Cargo sharing up to 50% of all available capacity on additional flights to be introduced by the Kenyan cargo specialist on the route from April 1, 2023.

“We look forward to transporting perishables from Kenya into Abu Dhabi and beyond on Etihad’s network, and on the return with cargoes from Asia, USA, and Europe to connect into Astral’s intra-African network in Nairobi. This cooperation will create new opportunities for our respective clients and will be a win-win partnership,” commented Astral Aviation Chief Executive Officer Sanjeev Gadhia.

The arrangement will also further Etihad Cargo’s reach into the African market, said Senior Vice President of Global Sales & Cargo Martin Drew. He said the MoU reflected the airlines’ shared commitment to joint network development and to providing more comprehensive solutions to international cargo transportation between Nairobi and Abu Dhabi. “The partnership will enable Etihad Cargo to expand its African network and offer increased cargo capacity both into and out of Nairobi, strengthening the connection between the two cities via this key route and further developing this critical African gateway,” he said.

In 2021, Etihad Cargo and Astral Aviation signed a Service Level Agreement (SLA) for the cost-effective transport of pharmaceuticals across Africa.