New Nairobi handling facility confirms first customers
Emirates SkyCargo and Nairobi-based Astral Aviation will be the first airlines to be handled through the new Transglobal Cargo Centre on-airport facility at Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. Transglobal Cargo Centre is the largest cargo handling facility at the airport, and will be the first fresh produce and cargo handling facility in Africa to incorporate a multi-storey ETV (elevating transfer vehicle)-based perishables handling system. This cool-chain ETV system will have capacity for storing 160 pallets – the equivalent of more than four 747 freighter loads .
Both Emirates SkyCargo and Astral are currently handled at the company’s existing off-airport terminal; perishables constitute a significant proportion of both carriers’ export traffic from the airport. As the new terminal incorporates full on-site pallet-building facilities for perishables, agent and shipper customers of both airlines will be able to deliver loose perishable cargo direct to the terminal for containerisation or palletisation; this work is currently performed by agents and shippers off airport.
The Transglobal facility has roller bed access to the temperature-controlled ULD build-up area. The perishables handling area is divided into separate temperature zones (e.g. chilled store, freezer) to cater for the varying needs of different commodities. Shippers, agents and regulatory staff will also have access to a dedicated 1,000 sq m perishables inspection and re-packing area.
Located on JKIA’s newly-extended freight apron, with direct airside access, Transglobal Cargo Centre will help the airport to accommodate future growth and, by replacing its reliance upon off-airport cargo handling facilities, will facilitate the airport’s application for FAA category 1 status.
