The last few weeks have seen some unprecedented twists and turns of the fortune of many airlines. Under tremendous financial strain , some commercial airlines have switched from carrying passengers to cargo. Last Thursday, Kenya Airways carried 40 tons of fresh fruit and vegetables to London in a converted Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Pin Kenya Airways has converted a 787 for cargo operations. Photo: John Taggart via Flickr 40 tons of fruit and veg to London
In a bid to ensure its survival amidst travel bans and passenger demand decline, Kenya Airways has converted four of its widebody airplanes to cargo aircraft. The airline’s CEO Allan Kilavuka said in a statement to Kenyan Wall Street that the company is also looking into converting some of its narrowbody aircraft for shorter missions across the African continent.
Last Thursday, one of the Nairobi-based airline’s Dreamliners took off for London, UK, with over 40 tons of vegetables and other horticulture products for export. On the way back, it reportedly carried pharmaceuticals, mining equipment, packaging materials for flowers, and courier items. Pin Kenya Airways crew are subject to Kenya’s strict quarantine rules. Photo: Kenya Airways Staff shortages due to quarantine
It isn’t as if the airline is lacking in know-how. KQCargo, Kenya Airways’ airfreight and courier service, is Africa’s leading airfreight carrier. But the subsidiary is also not without its share of corona-related problems. KQCargo has been forced to ground some of its cargo planes due to staff shortages, as crew members remain in mandatory quarantine. This is costing the carrier tens of millions of shilling in occupancy bills.
On Monday, it was reported that Kenya Airways is seeking exemption from Kenya’s strict quarantine rules, which it said were frightening its staff. The airline is awaiting approval from the Kenyan Ministry of Transport for a new guideline protocol that would make sure its staff are exempt.
“The protocol that we have developed highlights how we shall ensure that our crew will follow strict guidelines that will protect them from contracting the disease. It shows how we are going to protect our members,” CEO Kilavuka said in an interview, according to the Daily Nation.
Some of the measures include checks on the crew before and after leaving the country, use of full-body protective equipment, thorough disinfection of other gear, and controlled movement while in foreign countries Pin Kenya Airways cargo branch is facing staff shortages due to […]