NAIROBI, Kenya, May 6 – America’s Delta Air Lines has hired ANA-AVI Cargo based at Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport as its cargo general sales and service agent.
The airline, which is due to start services between Nairobi and Atlanta on June 3, has also picked Transglobal as its cargo general handling agent.
“Delta will have up to ten tonnes of cargo space available per flight from Nairobi and we are delighted to have a dedicated and knowledgeable team supporting that important part of our service,” said Helena Haubova, Delta’s regional manager for cargo sales in East Africa.
The key cargo products to be transported are fresh cut flowers, handicrafts, tea/coffee, fresh fish, fresh vegetables and personal effects.
Delta is the only American carrier operating nonstop service between the U.S. and Africa. By June this year, Delta will operate flights from nine cities in seven African countries, including Egypt, Ghana, Senegal, South Africa and Nigeria.
The airline is introducing new international routes between the United States and Asia, Africa, Europe and the Middle East, to protect itself from a slowing U.S. economy.
"The new four-times weekly flight will be the only direct service to the United States from Kenya" said Bobby Bryan, Delta\’s commercial manager for West and East Africa.
It will provide connections between Kenya and Senegal via Nairobi, where passengers can take advantage of several connections to other East African cities such as Mombassa, Kigali, Entebbe and Dar es Salaam operated by SkyTeam partner, Kenya Airways.
Delta’s direct service between Nairobi and Atlanta will operate using a Boeing 767-300ER aircraft with up to 216 seats.
The new flight from Nairobi is scheduled to operate on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.
