The new entity will offer cargo services using Jomo Kenyatta International Airport as a hub. The Kenya Airways intra-Africa capacity will be linked to the daily intercontinental flights operated by the three owner airlines.
The new company will be operational in January 2001. Peter Scholten of Martinair Cargo has been appointed project manager and will also be managing director for the first year. The name of the joint entity, in which Kenya Airways holds a 60 per cent majority stake, will be announced before the market launch.
The head office will be situated at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, a major hub, with all three partners offering daily passenger or freighter flights.
In addition, offices will be opened in Johannesburg, Lagos and Dubai and GSAs will be appointed at other network points. CARGOAL, KLM Cargo's booking and operational system, will be used for customer services and operations.
The new company will tailor its services according to market needs, seeking to build new markets in Africa, and will participate in the relief goods and ad-hoc charter markets within the region.
With Nairobi as the central hub the partners are able to offer Europe-Africa, the Middle East and India to Africa and a wide range of intra-Africa routes. The organization will lease intra-Africa freighters, with the intention of growing into a cargo airline in the coming years.