► KENYA: Astral Aviation signs lease deal with Atlas Air Worldwide for one B747-400F due shortly.

Kenyan cargo carrier, Astral Aviation (8V), has signed a deal with US-based ACMI specialists Atlas Air Worldwide for the lease of one B747-400(F), Astral's first widebody freighter, for use in expanding its Africa-Europe cargo operations.

The contract is for one aircraft under an ACMI (Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance and Insurance) agreement, with service expected to begin in the next few weeks. This is the first 747-400F for Nairobi-based Astral Aviation whose current fleet consists of two DC9-30(F)s and a B727-200(F) which will be replaced with three MD83(F)s in 2014.

Sanjeev Gadhia, CEO of Astral Aviation, said: “We are excited about the prospects for air cargo growth between Africa and Europe, as well as within Africa. The Nairobi hub generates the highest volumes of perishable exports into Europe and combined with the return loads of oil and gas equipment into West Africa, the B747-400F is the perfect freighter.”

Astral Aviation operates in partnership with UK-based ANA Airline Management Limited.

Atlas Air Worldwide is the parent company of Atlas Air, Inc. (Atlas) and Titan Aviation Leasing (Titan), and is the majority shareholder of Polar Air Cargo Worldwide, Inc. (Polar).