Kenya Airways doubles capacity with 737-800 cargo flights

Kenya Airways will double the size of its cargo fleet with the arrival of two Boeing 737-800 converted freighters from the USA, Robert Convey, Senior Vice President, Sales & Marketing, Miami-based Aeronautical Engineers Inc., said. Each plane is 25 per cent larger than the airline’s existing freighters, which means KQ Cargo is adding 150 per cent capacity. The arrival of the freighters was part of an effort to capture growing freight demand in Africa and the Middle East. The first 737-800 aircraft was delivered to Kenya Airways in mid-January, and the second one will be ferried to the airline’s Nairobi base in a few weeks. The airline is acquiring aircraft under long-term leases from GA Telesis, an aerospace services and leasing firm, also based in South Florida. GA Telesis, which began its freighter leasing business in 2021, stated it acquired the aircraft last year and sent them to AEI to install the conversion kit, including a large cargo door.