The Nairobi-based airline's latest route expansion follows its entry into the Chinese market last year, as it continues building connectivity between Asian and Africa
Kenyan cargo airline Astral Aviation has launched a new route between China and South Africa to help meet demand for a large variety of cargo between the two countries.
The Kenyan airline said it had already carried out the inaugural flight on its new Haikou, China to Johannesburg, South Africa route.
"Astral Aviation is proud to announce the successful launch of its inaugural flight from Haikou, China to Johannesburg, South Africa operated by its Boeing 767-300 Freighter," said the Nairobi-headquartered airline.
Astral said the route would cater for a wide variety of cargo, including e-commerce, pharmaceuticals, electronics, textiles, perishables and general cargo.
In August last year, Astral added China to its network with a new route from Guangzhou to Nairobi with an onward connection to Maputo in Mozambique.
The airline said at the time it planned to introduce additional routes in the near future, further bridging the gap between key markets across Asia and Africa.
Jomo Kenyatta International Airport-hubbed Astral currently has three freighters in its fleet, data from Planespotters shows. These include a Boeing 767-300F, a Boeing 767-200F and a Boeing 737-400F.
Astral previously told Air Cargo News that it also planned to add a Boeing 737-800F and two Boeing 777 passenger to freighter (P2F) aircraft, once the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issues the Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) for the conversion. The airline also confirmed it has postponed its order for two Embraer E190Fs indefinitely.
In recent years, Astral had been focusing on getting rid of ageing freighters from its fleet. As a result, it removed narrowbody Boeing 757Fs, Boeing 727-200Fs and McDonnell Douglas DC9s.
