Page 8 - LUA November December 2024 Issue for website

COVER STORY

There are several reasons for the the cold rooms is around 45 to 80
limited air cargo capacity out of Kenya tonnes,” she said.
including the disruptions in the sea “We are in a freight crisis as we speak.
freight and ongoing airfreight peak The capacity we had on different airlines
season. For instance, a senior official has gone to other sides of the world,
from Kenya Airport Authority, who Europe and Asia, because of the rates and
thinks that the Gaza war is responsible has resulted in cargo rollovers,” she added.
for the crisis in his country, informed She took the example of airline
that there are not less than 700 tonnes Martinair whose cargo they handle in
of perishables in farms that they are not Jomo Kenyatta International Airport,
able to move. “And it will go on until Port congestion, Nairobi. She reported that Martinair is
there's something done,” he said. outdated systems, currently flying only three to four flights
He explained that the conflict has per week to Amsterdam compared to
led to a reduction in aircraft supply, bureaucracy, all the six flights earlier or even seven in
causing prices to rise. He noted that lead to delays, good weeks resulting in rollovers. “So
the reduction in flights to Nairobi has inefficiencies this means our storage capacity is quite
been ongoing for over a year, with a constrained,” she said.
significant drop occurring in October. and waste in the KAHL has also opted for the First
“The Gaza war and disruptions in the movement of produce In, First Out (FIFO) strategy to handle
Red Sea are causing high demand and to export markets. the situation. “We are prioritising the
reducing the profitability of airlines shipment that came yesterday to be
operating traditional routes from OSAM IYAHEN flown today,” she said.
Nairobi. The main issue is the high air AFRICA FINANCE CORPORATION Ndawiro and KAHL have also
freight rates due to demand and supply advised the shippers not to bring in
economics,” he said. more cargo than required because of
Confirming the freight crisis in equivalent to 45 tonnes. “On a normal limited capacity. “The best life of flowers
Kenya, Stella Ndawiro, Operations day, we dispatch around 250 tonnes significantly reduces between day four
Manager, Kenya Airfreight Handling of cargo. Right now we are only doing and five. We can keep them cool, but
(KAHL), reported that they have daily around 100 tonnes because of the cannot maintain the quality for more
rollovers of about 15 pallets, which is capacity challenges. The rollover within than five days,” she added.

6 LUA NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2024