IATA WCS2017: Astral Aerial wins Innovation Award with drone project
Astral Aerial Solutions has won the 2017 IATA Cargo Innovation Award with its ‘UTM Concept for Africa’, a project to use drones in remote areas with insufficient infrastructure. Kenya-based Astral Aerial Solutions is a subsidiary of Astral Aviation, and says the concept seeks to answer the questions surrounding safe, secure and effective drone operations and […]
Air Cargo Africa 2017: Drones to be part of life
The potential of other transport methods including drones, UAVs and airships in Africa provided an interesting discussion to end the Air Cargo Africa conference and exhibition. The panel discussion, ‘Innovations in cargo delivery: from drones to UAVs to airships’ was moderated by BeCon Projects chief executive officer (CEO), Uwe Beck, who was joined by Astral […]
Astral remains committed to three-hub strategy
Astral Aviation remains committed to its three-hub strategy for Africa even though it is reconsidering the planned Western base in Lagos, chief executive officer Sanjeev Gadhia (pictured below) tells Air Cargo Week (ACW) staff writer, James Muir. Astral is planning a West Africa hub for the middle of this year and was looking at Lagos […]
Many issues to discuss as Air Cargo Africa returns for another year
There will be much to talk about at Air Cargo Africa in Johannesburg, with five panels discussing issues including Africa’s potential and overcapacity, and forum sessions including pharmaceuticals and perishables. The action will kick off with a welcome address by STAT Media Group editor-in-chief, R K Patra at 11.00h on Tuesday 21 February, followed by […]
Kenyan perishables in high demand
Perishables make up the bulk of cargo handled by Siginon Aviation at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi. This consists of flowers, which are 80 per cent of perishables it handles with the other 20 per cent vegetables and herbs. But aviation divisional manager, Jared Oswago (pictured below) says performance has been affected in […]
More flights to Angola as Liege Airport and NAS strengthen partnership
Network Airline Services (NAS) has signed a new partnership with Liege Airport making the Belgian airport its hub for Africa and increase flights to Angola. NAS has transported over 90,000 tonnes of freight using Liege Airport since May 2014 with its worldwide network linking the USA, Malaysia and Hong Kong to Europe. There are direct […]
Astral suspends cargo services in South Sudan, but runs evacuation flights
Astral Aviation has grounded freighters to South Sudan due to reported conflict in the area and won’t resume them until 15 July, but is carrying out charter evacuation missions. The African carrier had stopped all flights from 9-12 July, citing concerns over safety of their staff, affecting the three weekly cargo flights from Nairobi to Juba. […]
The last region of air cargo opportunity is rising
Africa is the last frontier of opportunity for aviation and the air cargo market, relatively untapped and waiting to develop into the powerhouse region many think it can become. However, it continues to be held back by political instability, despite this improving, a lack of infrastructure and co-operation between all 54 countries on the continent, […]
Development of intra-African air cargo networks vital for future
Developing intra-African networks is essential to grow the continent’s airfreight market and new agreements set to come into play are set to give a significant boost. Boeing’s Thomas Crabtree (pictured above), who analyses the air cargo market for the US aircraft manufacturer told delegates at the Africa Air Cargo Summit in Addis Ababa yesterday that the […]
60 Seconds with Astral Aviation founder and chief executive officer, Sanjeev Gadhia
Justin Burns, ACW: How is business for Astral Aviation? Gadhia: We have experienced a 15 per cent decline in payloads in 2016, compared to the same period in 2015, which can be contributed to various reasons such as drop of oil, gas and mining commodities, which combined with a weak currency is affecting inbound volumes […]
Ambitions high at Astral Aviation
Astral Aviation has ambitious growth plans for Africa after marking its 15th anniversary this year. It will expand its freighter fleet and intends to more than double its offering of scheduled routes. “From 2016 to 2018 we will be setting up of new hubs in Lagos and Johannesburg to meet the requirements of customers shipping […]
