KQ Cargo moves to ease exporter’s transport needs

Kenya Airways is expanding its freight services to cater for growing commerce in the region. The airline could be the missing link that the local horticulture sector has been lacking for a long time. Edward Ojulu caught up with the Kenya Airways Cargo manager, Luke Arrum, who was in the country for the 16th Rwanda International Trade Fair, about this and other issues:QUESTION: Tell us about Kenya Airways CargoANSWER: Kenya Airways Cargo (KQ Cargo) was launched in May 2004 as a division in the commercial department of Kenya Airways. It was formerly called Ken Cargo that was owned by Kenya Airways, KLM and Martin Airlines. It is has developed into a big freight company responsible for optimising the cargo belly capacity on Kenya Airways passenger aircraft and developing a dedicated freighter network to achieve the goal of being the cargo airline of choice for the region.What products does KQ Cargo offer?Our products include KQ Express for shipments that are urgent or require speed and reliability. These may be courier products that are time definite. We also have KQ Pharma for pharmaceutical products. Our biggest product is called KQ Fresh, which handles fresh products destined to Europe. There is also KQ Secure for those shipments that require high security such as bank notes and KQ Mail that is offered to postal authorities.What products have you come to sell to business people in Rwanda?We have come to sell a service; to inform Rwandans that there is a service to move their goods beyond East Africa to the rest of the world. Rwanda is a landlocked country and imports through the Port of Mombasa. It takes a long time for goods to reach here. Kenya Airways Cargo is here to offer new solutions from Mombasa to Kigali. This reduces distance to just hours. Traders have been lacking means of exporting to Europe or to other African countries, but with KQ Cargo, it is now possible either via Mombasa port or to Europe via Nairobi. What is there for Africa to trade with itself? Although the continent is known for producing only raw materials for western manufacturers, there are now finished products that can be sold to the outside world. Some of the products we get from Europe are now being produced in Africa. Africa just needs to value itself. Our regional flights distribute fresh produce and manufactured goods. This is where Rwanda comes in as business people need to ship produce to the region, especially to Congo Brazzaville and Gabon.Regional leaders are talking about building a railway network to facilitate commerce, but are investing more in air transport. Is your business sustainable?There are products that are best carried by rail. Others, because of urgency, will still go by air. Rail and air transport systems can complement each other. From sea to air and rail to air can ensure efficiency in delivery. For example, from Mombasa to Lubumbashi takes 14 days by road, yet the distance can be reduced to just four hours by air.Which destinations does KQ Cargo ply?Kenya Airways as whole operates 60 destinations across the world. However, through its strategic partnership with other airlines, KQ cargo is able to provide cargo connections to over 100 destinations.The 747 wide-body cargo aircraft serves Goumgzhou in China, while the smaller 737 serve regional destinations in Eastern, Central and Southern Africa, including Kigali, Entebbe, Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar, Mwanza, Juba, Kinshasa, Brazzaville, Bangui, Douala, Yaoundé and Lusaka. In the coming five weeks, new destinations will be added. They are Djibouti, Adis Ababa, Lubumbashi, Ndjamena and Pemba.The regional routes enable Kenya Airways Cargo to help Africa to trade with Africa. Most of the time it has been Africa trading with the outside world, with very little commerce taking place between African countries.What is the size of your fleet, especially cargo carriers?Kenya Airways operates 41 passenger aircraft, 10 of which are wide-body that fly long destinations. The others are small-body aircraft that mainly serve regional routes. Of our three cargo planes, one is wide body. We expect to grow the cargo fleet to 12 in the next 10 years.We are in the process of converting four of its Boeing B737-300 passenger jets into freighters. The first of these aircrafts is already in operation since April this year with the second freighter expected back into service early next month.