Kenya Airways Cargo (KQ Cargo) has expanded its route network to include direct cargo flights between Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Mogadishu in Somalia.
Sharjah is the third most populous city in the UAE.
The new route will operate weekly from February 9th, increasing to twice weekly flights in April 2024.
KQ Cargo has partnered with GSA Global Cargo LLC, a global cargo sales and service agency based in the United Arab Emirates, as the cargo logistics partner to service this route.
KQ Cargo recently expanded its cargo capacity with the entry into service of the Boeing 737-800F.
According to management, the new cargo ship will extend its range, connect important cargo hubs and open up new opportunities for cargo services to meet customer demands and an evolving market.
KQ Cargo Director Dick Mulianki said the new route is in line with the company's revamped mission to offer customers network choice and strengthen its position as Africa's freight forwarder of choice. said.
“Direct flights between the UAE and Somalia are in high demand for air cargo transportation, especially for high-tech consumer goods, auto parts, project cargo and clothing, which are the most frequently operated on this route,” Murianki said. Ta.
He pointed out that Kenya Airways has expertise in the region and the adequate capacity of its Boeing 737-800F will be an ideal match in the long term.
Kannan Nachiappan, CEO of GSA Global Cargo, said a direct connection between the UAE and Somalia would provide customers with more capacity, reduce transit times and reduce costs. Ta.
“The United Arab Emirates is a multimodal logistics hub and serves as a major gateway to Africa, and having a dedicated KQ Cargo freighter to provide this service will reduce transit times and increase intra-regional can provide planned main deck capacity to some remote locations,” said Nachiappan. He said.
He added that the service covers a market characterized by belly-only options, long transit times and high prices.
Kenya Airways will also resume direct passenger flights between Nairobi and Mogadishu from February 15th.
The air cargo business has been critical to keeping airlines afloat during the COVID-19 pandemic, when passenger numbers were down due to travel restrictions.
