(Nairobi) – Kenya’s fresh produce industry is experiencing a critical disruption as airlines scale back freighter services during the lucrative holiday season, diverting cargo flights to higher-paying international routes. Qatar Airways has reportedly pulled two freighters that served the Nairobi–Liege (Belgium) route, primarily used for shipping flowers. This has created a 200-tonne gap in export capacity, posing significant challenges for Kenyan exporters.
According to the Shippers Council of Eastern Africa (SCEA), this seasonal reduction in freighter availability is an expected trend as airlines prioritize Asia-US-Europe routes to maximize earnings from holiday-related shipments, where freight rates reach as high as $8 (Sh1,033) per kilogram. The shift is causing losses that amount to billions of shillings for Kenya’s horticultural and fresh produce sector, as transport options dwindle and prices soar.
Since early October, the situation has worsened, with several airlines further reducing their freight services. Magma Aviation, which operated a Wednesday service from Nairobi to Brussels, has withdrawn its freighter, causing a further reduction of 100 tonnes in capacity for flower and vegetable exports. Meanwhile, Cargolux is considering scaling back its Nairobi–Amsterdam route, which could impact an additional 100 tonnes of export capacity for Kenyan agricultural products.
Turkish Airlines has also decreased its freighter service from Nairobi to Maastricht in the Netherlands, removing one flight per week and reducing export capacity specifically for flowers. Airflo, another key player, has asked clients to cut down on the volumes they send for export, as it faces a 300-tonne shortfall in available airfreight capacity.
Airflo acknowledged the impact of the cuts in a notice, stating, “We are aware that a more constructive solution would have been to secure additional capacity, but this has not been feasible. Therefore, we are left with no option but to impose these restrictions.”
Exporters are also dealing with substantial daily rollovers, estimated to range between 200 and 300 tonnes, as fewer airlines remain available to handle fresh produce shipments. These remaining airlines have raised their rates from $2.30 (Sh297) per kilogram to between $3.57 (Sh461) and $3.60 (Sh465). Kenya Airways, currently the most affordable option at $2.30 per kilogram, is limited in its capacity to meet the high demand.
| Freight Route | Airline | Capacity Lost |
|---|---|---|
| Nairobi–Liege | Qatar Airways | 200 tonnes |
| Nairobi–Brussels | Magma Aviation | 100 tonnes |
| Nairobi–Amsterdam | Cargolux (planned reduction) | 100 tonnes |
| Nairobi–Maastricht | Turkish Airlines | Reduced frequency |
| Airflo Capacity Loss | Airflo | 300 tonnes |
SCEA notes that this shift in resources happens annually during the holiday peak, with airlines increasingly focused on the Asia-US-Europe corridors that offer higher freight rates. As the crisis affects exporters’ livelihoods, the council has urged the Kenyan government to take measures to mitigate the impact. Their recommendations include allowing alternative carriers to temporarily fill the void left by exiting airlines and providing temporary landing rights for freighters willing to operate on Kenyan routes. Additionally, SCEA suggested reserving 30 percent of capacity on chartered flights for local exporters to ensure access to airfreight during this critical period.
Another proposal involves allowing ferry flights—aircraft traveling through Kenyan airspace without a scheduled stop—to land and pick up perishable goods, providing relief to the overburdened export sector.
SCEA’s chief executive, Agayo Ogambi, highlighted the urgency of the situation, describing it as “dire.” He also called on the government to consider supporting local operators interested in using wet leases—an arrangement allowing carriers to lease planes with crew included—since this model is gaining traction in markets like the United States and the United Kingdom. Wet leasing offers flexibility without the financial burden of ownership or dry leasing, which may help Kenya expand its airfreight options in the future.