Astral Aviation has added China to its network with a new route from Guangzhou to Nairobi with an onward connection to Maputo in Mozambique.
Air Charter Service Hong Kong was the launch customer for the new route which will be served by a 767 freighter, said Astral.
"Initially we will operate a weekly flight but this will increase to 3 x weekly from Mid October to Mid January and will then reduce to 2 x weekly thereafter," Astral's chief executive Sanjeev Gadhia told Air Cargo News.
Guangzhou in southern China serves as a key gateway for Chinese goods, ranging from electronics to e-commerce, explained the Nairobi, Kenya-headquartered airline, adding that the new service is designed to meet the rising needs of importers and exporters.
Speaking at the launch event, Sanjeev Gadhia, chief executive of Astral, said: “We are thrilled to commence our operations in China with this new service from Guangzhou. This route enhances connectivity between Asia and Africa and supports the increasing demand for reliable cargo transportation, facilitating the flow of essential goods and contributing to economic growth in both regions.
"We are grateful to our launch customer, Air Charter Service Hong Kong, The Guangdong Airport Authority Co. Ltd and our GSA IGS Air."
This new route is part of Astral Aviation’s broader expansion strategy. The company plans to introduce additional routes in the near future, further bridging the gap between key markets across Asia and Africa.
In March, Etihad Cargo and Astral Aviation began a partnership that incorporates Astral operating weekly flights from Abu Dhabi to its home hub of Nairobi where cargo can then be flown to and from other points in the carrier’s African network.
Astral has hubs in Nairobi, Dubai, Johannesburg and Liege.
The airline also has two 767Fs on order, due for delivery this year. Plus, in June, Astral said it leased its first Boeing 737-400 freighter from Canadian lessor Avmax Group.
Astral additionally plans to add two Embraer E190Fs next year, following a deal with Nordic Aviation Capital (NAC) in 2022.
