Astral Aviation has launched its B767-200F which will be deployed to meet the air freight needs in Africa. The aircraft is expected to start commercial operations from the mid of January. The B767-200F will focus on flights from Nairobi – Sharjah and Nairobi – Johannesburg with two frequencies each per week. By operating a thin scheduled network, the airline aims to operate charters for the Covid-19 vaccine which will take priority, the airline says.
The aircraft was delivered on 2nd of January 2021 by Cargo Aircraft Management (CAM), a subsidiary of ATSG under a five-year lease. This is the first ATSG aircraft to be leased to Astral. It has 42 tonnes payload and 350 cubic metres volume.
Astral Aviation provides all-cargo scheduled and charter service to more than 45 destinations in Africa and Europe, with its fleet consisting of 14 cargo aircraft which includes the B747, B727, McDonnell Douglas DC-9, BAE ATP, Fokker 50 and Fokker 27 freighters operating out of Nairobi and Liege hubs. ATSG, through its leasing and airline subsidiaries, is the world’s largest owner and operator of converted B767 freighter aircraft.