Kenya’s national carrier has partnered with a leading Canadian Aircraft maintenance company, Avianor, to repurpose its aircraft cabins for cargo operation which will be referred to as ‘Preighters.’
In a statement, the airline said it is the first-ever repurpose of that kind on the Boeing 787, making it a worldwide breakthrough. Kenya Airways began repurposing its aircraft in December last year and completed the process in January 2021.
Like most airlines around the world, Kenya national airline decided to redesign its aeroplanes after witnessing a big increase in demand for cargo freight services and a corresponding drop in demand for passenger flights.
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Also, increased e-commerce business and the need to deliver essential goods and medical equipment led to the high demand for freight services.
The CEO of Kenya Airways Allan Kilavuka said “We are excited to be part of the first-ever certified cargo conversion of this type on the Boeing 787 aircraft. It demonstrates our agility, innovation and quick thinking, as well as increases our cargo capability and capacity to keep essential goods moving across the globe.”
The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCCA) and the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) has granted approval to Kenya Airways to operate the repurposed aircraft, which will soon start flying the redesigned planes to meet the high demand for cargo services.
Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) Director-General, Captain Gilbert Kibe, praised Kenya Airways for ‘taking a bold innovative step to address the need for additional capacity for cargo and facilitating trade.’
