Astral Aviation has expanded and diversified its fleet by leasing its first Boeing 737-400 freighter from Canadian lessor Avmax Group. The deal includes a dry lease for the 737-400F (MSN 27082) and a sale-leaseback arrangement for a Boeing 767-200F (MSN 22217), which has been part of Astral’s fleet since 2020.
Sanjeev Gadhia, founder and CEO of Astral Aviation, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership with Avmax, stating, “We are excited to add Avmax as a growth partner. Both transactions highlight their ability to provide flexible solutions that meet market requirements, enabling further growth for the Astral fleet. The introduction of the B737-400F marks an important inflection point in our growth strategy. This aircraft streamlines our fleet mix, allows Astral to match cargo demand with appropriate capacity, and ultimately offers better solutions to our customers.”
Based in Kenya, Astral Aviation operates from hubs in Nairobi, Dubai, Johannesburg, and Liege. Its current fleet includes one Boeing 757F, one Boeing 767F, two Boeing 727Fs, one McDonnell Douglas DC9F, and three Fokker 50s. Additionally, the airline has two more 767Fs on order, scheduled for delivery this year. Astral also plans to introduce two Embraer E190Fs next year, following a 2022 agreement with Nordic Aviation Capital (NAC).
Steve Hankirk, CEO of Avmax Group, welcomed Astral Aviation into the Avmax family, stating, “We are pleased to have completed both transactions with Astral Aviation and welcome them into the Avmax family. Astral continues to demonstrate that they are a leading cargo carrier in the African market, and we are proud to support them with the growth of their airline.”
Scott Greig, Senior Vice President and Head of Avmax Aircraft Leasing Inc., emphasized the strategic importance of the African market and Avmax’s operational agility, saying, “Both transactions demonstrate our commitment to the African market and highlight Avmax’s diverse capabilities in leasing aircraft to leading carriers like Astral Aviation. We are pleased to support Astral as they optimize their fleet with the introduction of a B737-400F, enhancing their ability to meet growing cargo demand effectively.”
The announcements were made during this year’s AviaDev conference in Namibia, where industry leaders gather to discuss developments and opportunities in African aviation.
In a related development, Astral Aviation has recently begun a partnership with Etihad Cargo. This collaboration involves Astral operating weekly flights from Abu Dhabi to its home hub in Nairobi, facilitating cargo movement to and from various points within Astral’s extensive African network.