Coronavirus in Africa

Kenya Airways flies food to London

20 Apr, 2020

Kenya Airways has recently flown 40 tonnes of fresh fruit and vegetables to London

Kenya Airways has recently flown 40 tonnes of fresh fruit and vegetables to London in order to boost its fresh food and flowers industries. Before the Covid-19 pandemic Europe accounted for about 70 per cent of Kenya's cut flower exports and the industry employed about 150,000 workers.

The airline has converted four of its Boeing 787 Dreamliners from passenger to cargo planes to keep the national carrier in the air. At the moment most of the Kenya Airways fleet is grounded because of the Covid-19 outbreak and the closure of many international airports. Kenya Airways has 40 aircraft and nearly 4,000 employees and is essential for connectivity in East Africa.

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Kenya Airways also flew a consignment of medical supplies to Johannesburg in mid-April. It is now following the lead of Ethiopian Airlines to move into a gap in the cargo market throughout Africa and also abroad.

Ethiopian Airlines

Ethiopian Airlines, the largest carrier in Africa, has said that it can survive with its cargo operations (Ethiopian Cargo) alone until July. Out of its previous 127 passenger destination, it is now only operating 19, but from its 10 cargo destinations in January it is now servicing 74 worldwide.

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Since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic Ethiopian Airlines has become one of the main shippers of medical supplies throughout the continent. Recently it teamed up with South African Airways to fly medical supplies to Johannesburg from Frankfurt, freighting mainly fish, fresh fruit and vegetable on the outward journey from Johannesburg and returning with Covid-19 testing kits, insulin, personal protective equipment (PPE) and pharmaceuticals.