Kenya Airways introduced the new aircraft in November 2023 and is set to incorporate the second Boeing 737-800 freighter in February 2024.

Kenya Airways (KQ) has announced the initiation of a bi-weekly freighter service, utilizing its recently acquired Boeing 737-800 freighter from Mumbai (BOM) to Nairobi (NBO).

The inaugural flight took off from Mumbai International Airport on Thursday, February 15, 2024, with the freighter scheduled to operate out of Mumbai every Monday and Thursday.

Daniel Salaton, Senior Manager of E-commerce and Express Cargo at Kenya Airways Cargo, mentioned plans to enhance the routing to Nairobi-Sharjah-Mumbai-Nairobi and eventually operate the freighter directly between Nairobi and Mumbai.

He highlighted the airline’s commitment as not only a Kenyan carrier but also an African one, aiming to address the demand for African perishables and other valuable products in India through a direct connection.

He also conveyed that the inaugural Kenya Airways (KQ) freighter departing from Mumbai was at full capacity, carrying a total of 20 tonnes of cargo.

In addition, Manoj Singh, Chief Cargo Officer at Adani Airports, expressed his perspective, stating, “Kenya Airways’ freighter service to Mumbai enhances the available capacity and offers more choices for customers in Mumbai. Achieving a balanced revenue necessitates cargo movement in both directions. We eagerly anticipate increased frequency and additional flights from Kenya Airways.”

Kenya Airways introduced the new aircraft in November 2023 and is set to incorporate the second Boeing 737-800 freighter in February 2024. This addition will bring KQ’s freighter fleet to four aircraft, complementing its existing two Boeing 737-300 freighters primarily serving the African region.

Featuring a range of up to 7 hours, the new aircraft provides a cargo capacity of 20 tonnes to and from its Nairobi hub. Kenya Airways currently operates twice-daily passenger services to Mumbai using its Boeing 737-800 aircraft, equipped with a belly capacity of three tonnes.

Nishant Seth, Director of Rainbow Aviation, the General Sales Agent (GSA) for Kenya Airways in India, remarked, “Our focus is not merely on cargo but on delivering solutions. The freighter is an incremental addition to our services for the benefit of Kenyan and Indian customers.”