Kenya Airways Introducing 737-800 Freighter

Kenya Airways will introduce a Boeing 737-800 Freighter to enhance its cargo capacity.

Kenya Airways’ Newest Addition

The newest addition to Kenya Airways’ fleet is a Boeing freighter in a move labelled as one that diversifies the operation.

Kenya Airways has recently entered a diversification strategy intending to cover more critical markets.

Cargo capacity continues to grow in the region, and Kenya Airways’ executives believe adding a 737-800 freighter will meet this growing demand.

The newly announced aircraft will offer up to 20 tons of cargo capacity and a range capability of up to 7 hours.

Kenya Airways’ Planned 737-800 Freighter Operations

Kenya Airways also outlined the key markets where it’ll deploy the freighter once delivery is completed.

The following locations are target locations for the 737-800 Freighter operations.

• Sharjah and Dubai World Central in the United Arab Emirates
• Jeddah and Riyadh in Saudi Arabia
• Lagos in Nigeria
• N’Djamena in Chad
• Mumbai in India
• Free Town in Sierra Leone
• Monrovia in Liberia
• Mogadishu in Somalia
• Dakar in Senegal

While these locations have been targeted, Kenya Airways says it’s open to adding more as it assesses demand and where the freighter might be suitable.

Cargo Capacity Data

According to IATA’s Air Cargo Analysis report published in August 2023, 49.3 billion ATCKS were registered. This was 12.2% higher than the same period one year earlier.

Meanwhile, Kenya Airways uplifted almost 70,000 tons of cargo last year. This included textiles, fresh produce, animals, and spare parts, among others.

Comments From Executives

As Africa continues to unravel the trade opportunities available within the continent, there is consensus that there is a need to invest in sustainable freight systems that will enable us to reach our full potential for socio-economic development. One of these is the need for a well-developed and capable air cargo system to support trade. With the addition of this freighter, KQ will now offer increased cargo capacity to existing routes as well as new cargo destinations and we encourage the market to take advantage of the new provision to maximize on the trade opportunities and potential for the region.

 Kenya Airways CEO and Group Managing Director, Allan Kilavuka.

Kenya Airways Fleet

Kenya Airways operates 33 in-service aircraft of several types.

The most significant fleet type, by active units, is the Embraer E190, with 14 in-service aircraft and two in storage.

Kenya Airways also operates nine Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners. These Dreamliners work alongside eight in-service 737-800s.

Kenya Airways Cargo division only has two units from the 737-300 family.