Since 2010, there have been a range of start-up air cargo airlines emerge across Africa and the Middle East, driven by the surge in e-commerce, regional trade integration and the need for resilient supply chains post-COVID-19. Here is an overview of notable entrants, their contexts and prospects in the coming years.

The first air cargo airline in Nigeria, Aglow Air Cargo, initiated regulatory approvals in early 2023. It operates as an ad hoc cargo carrier throughout the West African region. Based at Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Ikeja, Lagos State, Nigeria as its operational base, the carrier has a partnership with Turkish Airlines. The airline has established some 10 routes across the West African region.

Aglow operates a fleet of two ATR 72-500F aircraft. These turboprop freighters are specifically configured for cargo operations and each has a payload capacity of 8 tonnes The aircraft has a large cargo door which facilitates the loading of industry-standard pallets and containers, as well as outsized cargo. A windowless fuselage, reinforced floor panels and a Cargo Loading System (CLS) ensure efficient and secure cargo handling.

These aircraft enable Aglow Air Cargo to transport up to 20 tonnes of cargo daily from MMIA in Lagos, supporting both domestic and regional logistics needs. Aglow is a member of Cargo iQ, an IATA initiative that promotes quality standards in the air cargo industry. This membership underscores the airline’s commitment to adhering to international best practices and continuous improvement in its operations.

A Nigerian rival, ValueJet Cargo, has not fared as well as Aglow. ValueJet ceased its dedicated cargo operations last year when in November 2024 the airline returned its leased CRJ200SF freighter and announced plans to re-evaluate the air cargo sector in Nigeria before considering the addition of another freighter type to its fleet.

While the dedicated cargo operations have been halted, ValueJet remains active in passenger aviation and may revisit cargo services in the future based on market conditions.

In Ghana, Air Ghana is a Ghanaian cargo airline headquartered at the Ghana Airport Cargo Center (GACC) in Accra, with its main hub at Kotoka International Airport. In 2014, the airline obtained its Air Operator Certificate from the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority and commenced operations with a Boeing 737-400 freighter on behalf of DHL. By 2016, the airline inaugurated the Ghana Airport Cargo Center, a 10,000 sq m dedicated cargo warehouse facility supplemented by 9,000 sq m of office space, developed in partnership with Ghana Airports Company and Swissport. 

As of December 2024, Air Ghana operates a single Boeing 737-400F aircraft, registered as 9G-ACC, which replaced the previous aircraft of the same model. The airline primarily serves the West African region, providing cargo services and collaborating with major logistics partners like DHL. 

Beyond cargo operations, Air Ghana offers a range of aviation services, including airport representation, aircraft handling and support, and comprehensive ground and cargo handling services. 

At the bottom of the African continent, Suid Cargo commenced non-scheduled cargo flights from its hub at Johannesburg’s OR Tambo International Airport in the second quarter of 2023.

Revealed at the Air Cargo Africa 2023 event in Johannesburg, Thomas Honiball, CEO, stated that it planned to acquire additional freighters in 2024 which would comprise of narrow body freighters such as the Airbus 320F or Boeing 737-800F in addition to Embraer 190 Freighters in 2025.

According to Astral Aviation’s CEO, Sanjeev Gadhia, at the event: “We are honoured to support South Africa’s newest Cargo Airline, Suid Cargo Airlines, initially with our Boeing 727-200F and to offer our fleet of B747-400F, B767F and B757F on charter basis, which will enable the start-up Cargo airline to scale its operations to cover Southern, West and East Africa including Asia, Middle East and Europe.”

Kevin Moodley, commercial director of Suid Cargo Airlines, explained that the new airline would promote exports from South Africa in addition to transit shipments to over 20 African destinations, and will have a unique Sea-Air Cargo product from the Ports of Durban and Cape Town thus reducing transit time to the land locked regions in Africa.

How is it doing? 

As of early 2025, Suid Cargo Airlines is actively operating as South Africa’s newest cargo airline, having commenced non-scheduled flights in the second quarter of 2023 from its hub at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg.

Suid Cargo initiated its services with a leased Boeing 727-200F from Kenya’s Astral Aviation. Additionally, it has access to Astral’s fleet—including Boeing 747-400F, 767F, and 757F aircraft—on a charter basis, enabling the airline to scale its operations across Southern, West, and East Africa, as well as to Asia, the Middle East and Europe.

The airline has plans to expand its fleet by acquiring narrow-body freighters such as the Airbus A320F or Boeing 737-800F in 2024, and Embraer 190 freighters in 2025 

Suid Cargo serves over 20 African destinations, including Mozambique, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Zambia, Namibia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Angola, and Rwanda. The airline also offers a unique Sea-Air Cargo service from the ports of Durban and Cape Town, aiming to reduce transit times to landlocked regions in Africa. The company planned to transition to scheduled services in 2024, which would include operating a domestic network.

Not getting off the ground 

BBZR Cargo was a proposed cargo carrier to be based in Johannesburg, South Africa. The start-up planned to operate as a medium sized sales agent for air cargo services in Africa. It launched a crowdfunding campaign in October 2018, with no prospective launch date specified. Founded by Black entrepreneurs, it had been intended to offer cost-effective alternatives to foreign carriers and empower local logistics. No further updates have been provided, it is assumed the carrier has abandoned plans to launch.

Envisioned by Black entrepreneurs Inati Ntshanga and Taurai Zhanje, the founders aimed to establish an affordable, locally owned alternative to international cargo carriers, with a focus on empowering African stakeholders and reducing reliance on foreign operators. 

The company planned to operate Boeing 767 and 777 freighters from its base at O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, offering services across Africa. To fund the venture, BBZR Cargo launched a crowdfunding campaign in October 2018, targeting €250,000, but no specific launch date was announced. 

As of now, there is no public evidence that BBZR Cargo ever commenced flight operations. While the company maintained a website and listed offices in Johannesburg and Zurich, there are no records of active fleet operations, regulatory approvals or cargo services. Additionally, business directories indicate that the company has no listed employees. 

There is no indication that the company was liquidated; rather, it seems the project did not advance beyond its initial concept.

A Middle East start-up 

MENA Cargo is a Bahrain-based cargo airline established in 2020 and fully certified for commercial operations in 2021. It operates as a subsidiary of MENA Aerospace Enterprises and has formed a strategic partnership with Asia Cargo Network (ACN), which acquired a 49% stake in the airline in 2022, granting ACN full management rights.

It offers both scheduled and charter air freight services, focusing on underserved markets across the Middle East, North Africa, South Asia, and Southeast Asia. Its operations are designed for maximum flexibility and cost-efficiency, catering to various cargo types, including industrial shipments, pharmaceuticals, perishables, and high-value goods 

The airline utilises advanced technology solutions to streamline its operations. It has partnered with Awery Aviation Software to implement a web-based Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system and a CargoBooking tool. These tools facilitate flight and crew operations, charter sales management, instant quoting, and booking management with full API integration.

As of the latest available information, MENA Cargo operates a fleet that includes a Boeing 737-300F aircraft, a Boeing 737-800F aircraft and a Boeing 767-300F aircraft. The airline has plans to expand its fleet to a total of six aircraft over the next 18 months, incorporating a mix of owned and leased aircraft to meet growing demand in the region. 

The airline’s long-term vision includes becoming the region’s leading cargo carrier, offering both global long-haul freighter flights and regional feeder services by 2030. Additionally, MENA Cargo is exploring the development of electric unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for cargo deliveries as part of its future growth.