The Nairobi–Guangzhou route originally launched in August 2024, when Astral operated its first freighter flight from Guangzhou to Nairobi with an onward leg to Maputo, Mozambique. That launch marked the carrier’s entry into the Chinese market, aimed at deepening trade and logistics ties between Asia and Africa. Guangzhou was chosen as a major hub for Chinese exports, with the 767 Freighter used to move perishables, industrial goods and high-tech equipment — part of Astral’s broader push to expand its footprint in Asia and improve connections between the two continents.
This relaunch comes shortly after another expansion of Astral’s China-Africa operations. Earlier this month, the airline partnered with Fly Noor Aviation Services to resume a twice-weekly Haikou–Johannesburg freighter service routed through Nairobi, also using a Boeing 767-300 Freighter, to further strengthen cargo connectivity between the two regions. That service was unveiled during the Air Cargo China exhibition in Shanghai.