Kenya Airways (KQ) Cargo announced on Tuesday that it had successfully concluded its first ever transport of live cattle from Kenya to Nigeria. The shipment involved flying more than 50 animals from Nairobi to Lagos and was a milestone for the airline’s air cargo business.

“This successful maiden operation to Lagos demonstrates our ability to respond to complex and specialised cargo requirements across the continent,” affirmed KQ Cargo director Fitsum Abadi. “Live animal shipments require meticulous planning, specialised handling and close coordination throughout the journey. This milestone reinforces our commitment to supporting intra-African trade through flexible and reliable cargo solutions.”

The broader strategy of KQ is to expand its air cargo business by adding specialised freight transport to its conventional general cargo operations. The targeted specialised freight segments included dangerous goods, e-commerce, live animals, perishables and pharmaceuticals. All these require their own regulatory compliance, handling capabilities and operational reliability.

In this case, the animals were handled by the carrier’s specialised KQ Live service. This ensured that the cattle received proper handling and the correct environmental conditions, including ventilation and temperature regulation, as well as compliance with the requisite animal transport regulations.  This charter marks the expansion of the airline’s cargo capabilities and its ability to handle specialised freight.

“Through these specialised services, KQ Cargo aims to diversify its revenue streams, improve cargo yields and strengthen Nairobi’s position as a regional gateway for high-value freight,” explained the airline. “Additional widebody aircraft capacity and strategic partnerships are expected to support the airline’s broader cargo expansion ambitions.”

Further, handling specialised cargo will differentiate KQ Cargo’s offerings in an air cargo market that is becoming increasingly competitive. Customers are putting a premium on integrity of shipment and reliable delivery, with end-to-end visibility.

Moreover, the fact that this flight was between Nairobi and Lagos showed the opportunity for specialised air cargo to support trade between East Africa and West Africa, especially concerning goods that were time-sensitive and needed controlled handling. 

KQ serves 35 destinations in Africa and seven destinations outside the continent. It operates Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner (its flagship type) and 777-300ER widebody aircraft, and 737-800 and Embraer E190 single aisle airliners, as well as two Boeing 737-300F dedicated freighter aircraft.