Emirates Skycargo has added 10 more weekly flights to and from Nairobi amid increased demand for Kenya’s horticultural products abroad.
The airline has deployed Boeing 777-300ERs to make the trips to and from the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), ferrying horticulture produce to various markets in the Middle East, Asia, and Europe.
The decision to increase cargo flights to Kenya is aimed at ensuring there are enough food supplies in the Middles East and other markets abroad, according to Emirates East Africa cargo manager Saeed Abdulla.
“By doing this, we are able to help countries and supermarkets maintain their food supplies and at the same time help farmers reliant on food exports continue to make their livelihoods in these challenging times,” Saeed said in a statement.
Data from the Directorate of Horticulture shows Kenya earned Sh72 billion from horticulture exports between January and May 2020, an 11 percent growth from Sh65 billion earned during the same period last year.
The development comes amid a global economic crisis occasioned by the Covid-19 pandemic with the aviation industry being the most affected.
Most airlines including Kenya Airways were forced to turn to cargo transport to generate revenue at the height of the pandemic which completely crippled international travel.
KQ converted its passenger planes into cargo aircraft during the pandemic to export Kenyan horticultural products to Europe and other destinations.