Kenya’s Astral Aviation Launches Brisbane Air Cargo Route

Kenya-based Astral Aviation has launched a new B767-300ER cargo route connecting Hong Kong International to Brisbane International on behalf of Australian start-up AUS Air Cargo. The inaugural roundtrip flight was operated by aircraft 5Y-SVR on May 27 and 28, 2025. This marks a significant expansion of Astral Aviation’s presence in the Asia-Pacific region, building on its current Hong Kong services.

Astral Aviation CEO Sanjeev Gadhia announced the milestone on LinkedIn, highlighting the increased cargo capacity and operational flexibility the route offers. Astral Aviation, which also operates a B737-400F and a B767-200SF, runs scheduled cargo flights to 13 destinations in Africa as well as Dubai World Central and Hong Kong.

AUS Air Cargo is headquartered in Perth and led by Satvir Kalsi, who also serves as Astral Aviation’s commercial director in the UAE. Kalsi said the Brisbane flights are designed to move high-value perishables into North Asia efficiently. He added that AUS Air Cargo plans to launch additional routes from Sydney, Melbourne, and Perth using Astral aircraft under wet-lease agreements.

Although reports have indicated that AUS Air Cargo holds an Air Operator’s Certificate in Australia, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority’s records do not currently list the company as a certified operator. Nonetheless, the collaboration with Astral Aviation enables AUS Air Cargo to operate flights through wet leasing while it establishes its operational foundation.

This partnership highlights a growing demand for air cargo connectivity between Australia and Asia, particularly for perishable and time-sensitive goods.

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