Cargo takes precedence in new service,
writes Leonard Neill from Nairobi
THE VITAL role which cargo is playing in the finances of international airlines was emphasised by Brian Presbury, chairman of Kencargo, when he officially launched the new service which links Kenya Airways, KLM Cargo and Martinair Holland in an African and Middle East network.
Speaking in Nairobi last Friday, Presbury said the new service 'provided an opportunity to strengthen the cargo carrying and hence detune the risk in the passenger business.'
Kenya Airways, he said, had shown a big surge in cargo tonnage carried during the past six to 12 months.
"With the arrival of the new B767 before the end of the month, this venture presents the airline with an enormous opportunity to increase its cargo carrying both within the Africa region as well as on trunk routes. But this isn't a venture purely for Kenya Airways' gain. Each partner is here to operate on a win/win basis."
The Kencargo network, with Nairobi as the major hub, covers 33 airports in Africa, the Middle East and the Asian sub-continent. Offices have been established in Johannesburg, Lagos, Dubai and London with representatives to be appointed in all other network stations. New freighter routes are to be developed within Africa, while plans are afoot for a link from Africa to the Far East using transhipment in Dubai with Martinair's Amsterdam-Dubai-Far East service.
While KLM Cargo will maintain its own offices in Johannesburg, Dar es Salaam and Nairobi, Kencargo will represent it in Lagos and various other African stations in the network.
