Astral Aviation interlines with Airlink Cargo South Africa

Kenya-headquartered freighter operator Astral Aviation and Airlink Cargo South Africa have signed a broad interline agreement to connect their networks.

The companies said the commercial partnership could help to boost airfreight and logistics in Africa, as well as providing better access to the Sub-Saharan market through the their hubs in Johannesburg and Nairobi.

Also through the partnership, Astral Aviation will also have access to Airlink Cargo’s services to: Beira, Tete, Pemba and Maputo (Mozambique); Cape Town, Port Elizabeth and Durban (South Africa); Lubumbashi (Congo DRC); Gaborone (Botswana); Victoria Falls and Harare (Zimbabwe); Ndola and Livingstone (Zambia); Maseru (Lesotho); Antananarivo and Nosy Be (Madagascar); Walvis Bay and Windhoek (Namibia).

Sanjeev Gadhia (pictured), chief executive of Astral Aviation, commented: “The interline agreement will offer new opportunities and connectivity into Airlink’s network, which comprises various points in South Africa, Mozambique, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Lesotho, Madagascar and Namibia.”

Earlier this year, Silk Way West Airlines signed an interline agreement with Astral Aviation as it looks to offer destinations in Africa.

The two freighter operators will use Dubai World Central as a transit point for cargo being transferred between the two airlines.

Astral will connect Dubai to Nairobi where cargo can then be transferred to/from other locations on the continent.

“The agreement will allow Silk Way West Airlines to broaden its network toward Africa, since the carrier had no scheduled services within that continent,” the Baku-hubbed carrier said.

“Subsequently, the networks of carriers will be in a position to complement each other, as there is a number of markets, where both airlines do not overlap with one another.”