IAG Cargo, the cargo division of International Airlines Group (IAG) uplifted 53,793 kgs of cargo on a cargo-only flight from Nairobi, Kenya to London-Heathrow operated by a British Airways B777-300 aircraft in March – a record for Kenya.

The record cargo-only flight comprised of a mix of products including perishables, such as tropical fruits and vegetables, textiles and courier. IAG Cargo operates four weekly rotations from Nairobi to London Heathrow and popular exports from Kenya into the UK include cut flowers, fruits and vegetables, while imports are mainly automotive, pharmaceuticals, printed materials and consumer electronics.

Speaking about the achievement, area commercial manager for East Africa, Michael Muriithi at IAG Cargo commented: “This record uplift of nearly 54 tonnes shows the dedicated and committed efforts of the IAG Cargo team in Nairobi. The flight was carefully planned, ensuring efficient ULD planning, and we worked collaboratively with our ground handling partners to ensure loading was completed with care.

“Since the start of the pandemic we have been committed to creating efficient solutions for our customers to maximise capacity and keep supply chains open. We are proud to support our customers across the world.”

Last week marked the start of UK-Kenya Economic Partnership Agreement, providing Kenya unrestricted access to the UK market – free of duty and quota restrictions. In a communication from the British High Commission Nairobi, UK Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy to Kenya, Theo Clarke MP commented: “I’m delighted the Kenya-UK Economic Partnership Agreement is now legally in force –providing stability and certainty for UK and Kenyan businesses alike. The Agreement also guarantees permanent duty-free, quota-free access to UK markets for Kenya from day one, and gradually improved access for UK exports over time, whilst protecting sensitive goods.”*