East Africa-based charter company Air Bonanza Express has taken delivery of an Il-76 freighter to capitalise on a shortage of oversize capacity covering the African market reports Air Cargo News.
Chief Executive Officer Boniface Kimani said the company, which is based in Kenya and South Sudan, would target general charters, the oil & gas industry, freight forwarders, humanitarian organisations, mining companies, charter brokers, and oversized, bulky, heavy and abnormal loads requiring transport both into and out of Africa and within Africa.
“The key driver for the Il-76 is the shortage of oversized freighters in the market, especially the African region,” said Kimani. “Another factor driving the need is a remarkable increase in construction projects in various sectors within Africa.”
No further details of the company or the aircraft were provided. ch-aviation research found an Ilyushin Il-76TD, RA-76807 (msn 1013405176), operated by Russian cargo carrier Aviacon Zitotrans (ZR, Ekaterinburg) landed at Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta on June 6, having flown there from Omsk (Russia) via Fujairah (UAE) on June 5.
ch-aviation has reached out to Kimani and Aviacon Zitotrans for comment. According to his LinkedIn profile, Kimani is a pilot and director of flight operations and safety at Divine Connection, a charter company headquartered in Nairobi with operating bases in South Sudan and Somalia.
According to Air Cargo News, Air Bonanza Express previously chartered in An-26, Fokker 50, and B737 Classic capacity to serve the humanitarian sector in South Sudan.
