Kenya Airways Gets Approval to Convert Dreamliner into a Cargo Aircraft

The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) has approved a request by Kenya Airways to convert a passenger Dreamliner into a cargo plane.

The approval by KCAA comes weeks after the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) gave KQ the green light to convert the Boeing 787 into a cargo carrier.

“We have approved Kenya Airways' request of converting the Dreamliner into a freighter, and they are now able to use it worldwide for cargo purposes,” KCAA director-general Gilbert Kibe said.

This approval increases KQ’s available cargo carrying capacity at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) by more than 1,000 tonnes.

The national carrier said it will use the Boeing 787 for long haul cargo services between Nairobi and other countries, with a view of boosting revenues. KQ presently relies on two short-haul aircraft for ferrying cargo.

In April last year, KQ turned some of its grounded passenger flights into cargo freighters to keep it afloat amid the COVID-19 pandemic, which has disrupted the aviation industry.