Astral Aviation restores B767-300F in service to sustain operations

Astral Aviation has returned its Boeing 767-300F freighter to active service as part of efforts to maintain cargo connectivity between Africa, the Middle East and South Asia amid ongoing geopolitical tensions in the region.

The aircraft’s reintroduction comes as escalating instability in the Middle East continues to test the resilience of global supply chains, particularly for time-sensitive commodities such as perishables and pharmaceuticals that depend on reliable air cargo services.

According to Astral Aviation Founder and CEO Sanjeev Gadhia, the freighter is playing a key role in sustaining critical air bridges linking Nairobi with major Middle Eastern hubs including Jeddah, Riyadh, Sharjah and Dubai World Central (DWC), as well as other regional destinations.

With the Boeing 767-300F back in service, the airline has been able to reinforce capacity on these routes and ensure continuity for exporters and producers whose shipments rely on stable logistics connections.

The aircraft is supporting the movement of a wide range of cargo including fresh produce, pharmaceuticals, textiles and other essential goods across Astral Aviation’s network.

“In moments like these, air cargo becomes more than logistics, it becomes an economic lifeline,” Gadhia said in a social media post.

He noted that operational teams based in Dubai and Nairobi are working continuously to navigate airspace constraints, operational complexities and rising costs while maintaining reliable services.

The restoration of the B767-300F to the fleet forms part of Astral Aviation’s broader effort to stabilise cargo flows during a period of heightened uncertainty for global transport networks.