Astral Aviation has revised its East African freight schedule due to a rise in its intra-African load factor, which has seen it increase frequencies from its Nairobi hub.

The firm’s new enhanced freighter schedule started on 12 October 2015 – and marks a considerable increase in its frequencies.

Astral Aviation commercial director, Charles Simiyu, says: “We have experienced high load factors on our key routes notably Juba, Mogadishu and Mwanza which has benefited from additional frequencies.”

Following the closure of Juba International Airport on weekends, Astral will now operate three weekly frequencies from Nairobi to Juba, to cater for the increase in cargoes.

Nairobi to Mogadishu in Somalia receives an additional frequency thus making it twice-weekly to cater for the increase in peace-keeping cargoes.

From its Mogadishu hub, Astral will also be able to provide an on-forwarding service to Hargeisa and Djibouti. Due to mining volumes to Tanzania, Astral has increased its frequency to thrice-weekly, on its Nairobi to Mwanza route.

In addition, Astral continues to operate weekly services from Nairobi to Dar-es-salaam, Zanzibar, Moroni, Entebbe, Kigali and Pemba, in addition to Stansted Airport and Liege Airport.

On the charter front, Astral says it has experienced an increase in relief flights from its Nairobi hub to Bangui and Sanaa in Yemen.

Astral’s charter manager, Collins Oloo, says: “We have been overwhelmed with the demand for aid and relief cargoes from Nairobi and Djibouti to Sanaa in Yemen, and have performed in excess of a dozen flights already. Astral will continue to offer “on-demand” charters with sufficient capacity on its fleet.”