Nairobi's Jomo Kenyatta International Airport looks set to strengthen its position as a vital link in the international perishable goods chain after securing Emirates SkyCargo and Kenya-based Astral Aviation at its new 12,000sqm fresh produce facility.
Ram Menen, the airlines divisional senior VP for cargo, said: "We are delighted to be a launch customer of the magnificent new Transglobal Cargo Centre in Nairobi, which will speed processing of our perishables traffic, and help us to maintain pr
oduct condition in transit.
"This major investment will play a key role in further developing Nairobi as a gateway for cool-chain cargo."
The facility allows perishable goods to be divided into frozen and chilled areas and shippers benefit from a 1,000sqm inspection and repackaging zone and some of the exports that will be handled include fresh fruits and vegetables, chilled fish and coffee.
Emirates already operates two passenger and three freight services a week out of Kenyatta to its Dubai hub with major imports into Africa including telecom equipments, computer parts, pharmaceuticals, medical equipments, and aircraft parts.
"Emirates operates two passenger aircraft (with belly hold capacity) flights to and from Dubai. It also operates three freighter flights a week into and out of Nairobi, triangulating with Dubai, other African destinations and, for two of the flights, Amsterdam as well. As such, Emirates' weekly cargo capacity into Kenya is 250 tonnes and out of Kenya is over 500 tonnes," says Dave Gould, Emirates senior vice president cargo operations worldwide.
By Oliver Clark
