Sanjeev Gadhia, the founder and CEO of Astral Aviation, has been named Air Cargo Industry Personality of the Year at the prestigious 2025 Air Cargo Week World Air Cargo Awards, a recognition that highlights not just the 25 years he’s spent building his own company, but his lifelong mission to serve and uplift Africa.
But for Gadhia, the honour is not just a personal accolade. It’s a reflection of a deeper purpose—one that has always guided his work. “To me, it’s truly about serving others. Profit was never the focus—perhaps early on, in the first years, it played a role. But the real purpose should always be service,” he explained.
Innovating from necessity
One of the most pioneering areas of Gadhia’s career in recent years has been his push into cargo drone technology, spearheaded through a subsidiary-turned-independent company now led by his son, Kush. It’s a story that blends legacy with innovation.
“The drone business that we set up approximately eight years ago is very dear to me,” Gadhia said. “It was set up initially as a subsidiary of Astral Aviation and eventually became a standalone company.”
The project aims to address one of the biggest logistical barriers in Africa: the “last mile” between major hubs and isolated locations.
“You can fly the finest aircraft to transport cargo to the airport—but how does it reach a remote village two hours away?” he pointed out. “That’s where drones change the game. Their real value lies in solving the toughest challenge in logistics: last-mile delivery.”
Though he admits the solution is still in progress, Gadhia remains committed, collaborating with drone OEMs and forging long-term partnerships that he hopes will solve a problem that continues to limit Africa’s logistical potential.
“Eight years in, and I still haven’t reached that point of genuine fulfillment—where I can truly say we’ve solved this. It’s clear the journey will take longer, perhaps even outlast my own efforts.”
Mentoring the next generation
Another key aspect of Gadhia’s vision is his commitment to the next generation of African entrepreneurs. As a mentor and sounding board for many across the continent, he’s become a source of guidance and reassurance in a landscape where financial and institutional support remains limited.
“If I could offer one piece of advice to young entrepreneurs, it would be this: Stay true to your vision, but never underestimate the power of mentorship,” he shared. “Too often, I see driven individuals trying to go it alone—without enough support from the business world. That’s when the journey feels most isolating.”
The challenges are real: lack of capital, lack of infrastructure, and cultural hurdles. But Gadhia offers something many in his position do not—his time.
“Over the years, I’ve connected with so many aspiring entrepreneurs—from Kenya, from across Africa—who’ve reached out for guidance. Whenever possible, I make time for them. Sometimes, all it takes is a little encouragement and direction to help them keep moving forward.”
His advice is straightforward: don’t chase money, chase meaning. Put in the work. Embrace the uncertainty.
“Never shy away from working seven days a week, 30 days a month. Never shy away from taking a mortgage on your house just to actually keep the company afloat.”
Networks, partnerships, and a shared future
Even after 25 years, Gadhia is far from done. His vision for the next decade is ambitious: build a stronger African network, expand global feeder routes into the continent, and deepen strategic partnerships that promote shared success.
“We really want to grow our African network. That’s my first priority,” he said. “Because I really believe that I owe a lot to my continent. I’m born in Africa.”
With enhanced partnerships like those with Emirates Skycargo and Turkish Airlines in addition to over fifty interline partners already in motion, he envisions a network that’s not just operationally effective, but inclusive.
“Creating an African network just for my own benefit would be a missed opportunity—it would actually do a disservice to our collective progress. True value comes when you build something meaningful and open it up for others to grow with you.”
At the awards ceremony in Munich, Gadhia was the only African airline representative with a booth—an achievement not lost on him.
“It was really a very humbling moment when I was selected for my contributions,” he said. “Even yesterday, I was with Norman Bamford, and we were talking about the event. And I feel, for me, this is like 100 percent successful event.”
And in typical Gadhia fashion, he’s already looking ahead—not to celebrate, but to keep building. “I’m even looking forward now getting ready for the next event, which is in Hong Kong,” he said with a smile. “Because it’s not about take, take, take. I really have to also give back.”
