Astral Aviation Expands Fleet with Boeing 767 and 737 Freighters to Meet Cargo Demand
Astral Aviation Expands Fleet with Boeing 767 and 737 Freighters to Meet Cargo Demand - Astral Aviation adds Boeing 767-200 Freighter to meet rising cargo demand
Astral Aviation, a Kenyan cargo carrier, has added a Boeing 767-200 Freighter to its fleet to meet the rising cargo demand in the region.
This aircraft acquisition was made through a purchase and leaseback deal with Avmax Group, underscoring the Canadian lessor's commitment to supporting Astral Aviation's expansion and operational enhancement strategies.
In addition to the Boeing 767-200 Freighter, Astral Aviation has also expanded its fleet with a Boeing 737-400F, which it has leased from Avmax Group.
These strategic aircraft transactions aim to enable Astral Aviation to meet the growing cargo demand and enhance its operational capabilities in the African air cargo market.
The Boeing 767-200 Freighter has a maximum payload capacity of up to 59 tons, which is over 30% more than Astral Aviation's previous largest freighter aircraft.
The 767-200F's range of up to 6,600 nautical miles allows Astral Aviation to expand its cargo routes across a wider geographic area, including intercontinental flights.
Astral Aviation's new 767-200F features a unique cargo loading system that can accommodate a wide variety of palletized and containerized freight, enhancing operational flexibility.
The 767-200F's advanced avionics and fly-by-wire flight controls enable Astral's pilots to precisely manage the aircraft's performance, improving reliability and safety.
Industry analysts estimate the addition of the 767-200F will allow Astral Aviation to increase its cargo capacity by over 20%, strengthening the airline's competitiveness in the African air freight market.
What else is in this post?
- Astral Aviation Expands Fleet with Boeing 767 and 737 Freighters to Meet Cargo Demand - Astral Aviation adds Boeing 767-200 Freighter to meet rising cargo demand
- Astral Aviation Expands Fleet with Boeing 767 and 737 Freighters to Meet Cargo Demand - New Boeing 737-400 Freighter joins Astral's fleet through dry lease agreement
- Astral Aviation Expands Fleet with Boeing 767 and 737 Freighters to Meet Cargo Demand - Kenyan carrier strengthens partnership with Canadian lessor Avmax Group
- Astral Aviation Expands Fleet with Boeing 767 and 737 Freighters to Meet Cargo Demand - Astral plans to acquire three more Boeing 767-300 Freighters in 2024
- Astral Aviation Expands Fleet with Boeing 767 and 737 Freighters to Meet Cargo Demand - Astral Aviation aims to enhance operational capabilities in African cargo market
Astral Aviation Expands Fleet with Boeing 767 and 737 Freighters to Meet Cargo Demand - New Boeing 737-400 Freighter joins Astral's fleet through dry lease agreement
Astral Aviation continues to expand its cargo fleet with the addition of a Boeing 737-400 Freighter through a dry lease agreement with Avmax Group.
This narrowbody freighter, with serial number 27082, marks a significant step in Astral's fleet diversification strategy, complementing their existing widebody operations.
The new 737-400F is expected to enhance Astral's operational flexibility, allowing the carrier to serve a broader range of routes and meet the increasing demand for air cargo services across Africa and beyond.
The Boeing 737-400 Freighter joining Astral's fleet has a unique history, having been originally delivered as a passenger aircraft to Malaysia Airlines in This 32-year-old airframe demonstrates the longevity and adaptability of Boeing's commercial designs.
The 737-400F can carry up to 23,000 kg of cargo, which is equivalent to approximately 280,000 bananas or 115,000 pairs of shoes.
This payload capacity makes it an ideal aircraft for regional cargo operations.
Astral's new 737-400F features a large cargo door measuring 4 meters by 1 meters, allowing for the loading of outsized freight that wouldn't fit in the cargo hold of a standard passenger aircraft.
The conversion process from passenger to freighter configuration for a 737-400 typically takes around 90 days and involves the installation of a reinforced floor capable of supporting heavy cargo loads.
Despite being an older model, the 737-400F is still highly fuel-efficient, consuming approximately 2,400 kg of fuel per hour at cruise altitude.
This efficiency contributes to its continued popularity among cargo operators.
The cockpit of Astral's 737-400F retains many analog instruments, providing an interesting contrast to modern glass cockpits and offering pilots a more tactile flying experience.
Astral's dry lease agreement for the 737-400F allows for operational flexibility, as the airline is responsible for crew, maintenance, and insurance while benefiting from lower capital expenditure compared to purchasing the aircraft outright.
Astral Aviation Expands Fleet with Boeing 767 and 737 Freighters to Meet Cargo Demand - Kenyan carrier strengthens partnership with Canadian lessor Avmax Group
Astral Aviation, a Kenyan cargo carrier, has further solidified its partnership with the Canadian lessor Avmax Group through two significant transactions.
These deals, involving the purchase and leaseback of a Boeing 767-200 Freighter as well as the dry lease of a Boeing 737-400F, demonstrate the ongoing collaboration between the two companies and Avmax's continued support for Astral Aviation's fleet expansion and operational enhancement strategies.
Avmax Group, the Canadian lessor, has been in partnership with Astral Aviation, the Kenyan cargo carrier, since as early as 2020 when Astral added a Boeing 767-200 Freighter (MSN 22217) to its fleet through Avmax.
The latest transaction between the two companies involves Avmax purchasing and leasing back the same Boeing 767-200 Freighter, demonstrating the strong, long-term relationship between the lessor and the airline.
Astral Aviation has now expanded its fleet with a Boeing 737-400F (MSN 27082) through a dry lease agreement with Avmax, allowing the carrier to diversify its cargo operations.
The Boeing 737-400F freighter that Astral Aviation has added to its fleet was originally delivered as a passenger aircraft to Malaysia Airlines over three decades ago, showcasing the adaptability of Boeing's commercial designs.
Astral's new 737-400F can carry up to 23,000 kg of cargo, which is equivalent to approximately 280,000 bananas or 115,000 pairs of shoes, making it well-suited for regional cargo operations.
The conversion process from passenger to freighter configuration for a 737-400 typically takes around 90 days and involves the installation of a reinforced floor capable of supporting heavy cargo loads.
Despite being an older model, the 737-400F is still highly fuel-efficient, consuming approximately 2,400 kg of fuel per hour at cruise altitude, contributing to its continued popularity among cargo operators.
Astral's dry lease agreement for the 737-400F allows for operational flexibility, as the airline is responsible for crew, maintenance, and insurance while benefiting from lower capital expenditure compared to purchasing the aircraft outright.
Astral Aviation Expands Fleet with Boeing 767 and 737 Freighters to Meet Cargo Demand - Astral plans to acquire three more Boeing 767-300 Freighters in 2024
Astral Aviation's ambitious expansion plans continue with the acquisition of three more Boeing 767-300 Freighters slated for 2024.
This strategic move aligns with the carrier's vision to bolster its cargo capacity and meet the growing demand across its network.
The addition of these widebody freighters will significantly enhance Astral's ability to serve long-haul routes and handle larger shipments, potentially opening up new markets for the Kenyan cargo specialist.
Astral Aviation's acquisition of three Boeing 767-300 Freighters in 2024 will increase their total cargo capacity by approximately 177 tons, equivalent to the weight of 29 adult African elephants.
The Boeing 767-300 Freighter has a unique cargo door measuring 340 x 264 cm, allowing for the loading of oversized items such as vehicles or industrial equipment.
Each Boeing 767-300 Freighter can carry up to 52 LD2 containers, which are specifically designed for lower deck cargo compartments and can hold up to 1,225 kg each.
The acquisition of these freighters will enable Astral Aviation to expand its network reach by up to 6,025 nautical miles, potentially connecting Nairobi to destinations as far as New York or Tokyo non-stop.
Boeing 767-300 Freighters are equipped with a sophisticated Environmental Control System that can maintain cargo hold temperatures between 4°C and 29°C, crucial for transporting temperature-sensitive goods.
The avionics suite in these freighters includes a Future Air Navigation System (FANS), allowing for more efficient routing and reduced fuel consumption over long-haul flights.
Astral's new freighters will feature a reinforced main deck floor capable of supporting up to 12,700 kg per linear meter, allowing for the transport of dense cargo such as precious metals or machinery parts.
The Boeing 767-300 Freighter's wing design incorporates advanced aerodynamics, resulting in a 20-25% improvement in fuel efficiency compared to its predecessor, the 767-200 Freighter.
These freighters are equipped with auxiliary power units that can generate up to 90 kVA of electrical power, enabling self-sufficient ground operations without the need for external power sources at airports.
Astral Aviation Expands Fleet with Boeing 767 and 737 Freighters to Meet Cargo Demand - Astral Aviation aims to enhance operational capabilities in African cargo market
Astral Aviation, a leading cargo airline in Africa, has been expanding its fleet with the addition of Boeing 767 and 737 freighter aircraft.
This expansion, which includes a purchase and leaseback deal with Avmax Group, as well as a dry lease agreement, aims to enhance Astral Aviation's operational capabilities and meet the growing cargo demand in the African market.
Additionally, the airline has forged a partnership with Etihad Cargo to strengthen its presence and provide reliable air freight solutions across the African continent.