Etihad Cargo and Astral Aviation complete inaugural flight

Etihad Cargo and Astral Aviation have operated their inaugural Nairobi to Abu Dhabi flight, marking the commencement of an agreement ‘aimed at expanding Etihad Cargo’s reach into the African market’. Leveraging Etihad’s global reach and cargo airline Astral Aviation’s extensive African network coverage, the two parties will work together to enhance cargo services between the UAE and Africa, particularly for time-sensitive shipments such as perishable goods. The inaugural flight was ‘strategically timed to accommodate the increased demand for flowers,’ notes Etihad Cargo. CEO of Astral Aviation Sanjeev Gadhia added that “the new flight will enable the efficient transportation of perishables including flowers, fresh fruits, vegetables and meat”. Astral Aviation will resume weekly operations from Abu Dhabi starting from March 28 2024. Additionally, Etihad Cargo will also provide additional belly capacity to its partners and customers via its daily passenger flights to Nairobi starting from May 1 2024.