Air Bonanza Express will base its chartered Il-76 freighter out of N'Djamena in Chad and Abidjan in the Ivory Coast to cater to demand out of the two countries.
As reported by Air Cargo News, the company believes the decision to move the aircraft is “both strategic and demand-driven.” The media outlet quoted chief executive Boniface Kimani as saying: “There are a few project cargo movements and several others awaiting confirmation. This is an indicator that, alongside demand, helps us take calculated risks in moving the aircraft to the region.”
The company began Il-76 operations in 2023, ch-aviation reported at the time. "In view of the vastness of the West African region, there is a lack of enough equipment with oversized capacity like the Il-76," the CEO said.
Alongside this project, the Nairobi-based cargo carrier is negotiating the lease for an B767-300 freighter. No further details have been provided at this point.
ch-aviation reached out to Air Bonanza for comment but it was not immediately available.
The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority granted Air Bonanza Express a licence for one year on October 31, 2024, to operate international and domestic non-scheduled air services using a Cessna Aircraft Company C206 aircraft based out of Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta and Nairobi Wilson.
No details regarding the identity of the chartered Il-76 aircraft are publicly available.
