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Astral Aviation ends Nairobi-Juba flights as Sudanese civil war resumes
KENYA-based cargo carrier Astral Aviation has suspended thrice weekly cargo flights from Nairobi to Juba, the capital of South Sudan, civil war hostilities have resumed.
While a cease-fire was called on and the airport has reopened since being forced to close on Sunday, the peace is considered tenuous at best, according to local media.
The carrier hoped to resume cargo flights later in the month.
Astral joins other carriers RwandAir and Kenya Airways, which have also suspended flights to Juba, said a report in The East African.
In addition, the Siginon Group, also from Kenya, has suspended cargo service by truck to the South Sudanese capital.
Astral, however, has not been idle in the region, chartering an evacuation flight to protect South Sudanese civilians from the violence. On July 12, Astral operated a Fokker 100 charter aircraft, carrying 96 passengers from Juba to Nairobi. The carrier said these evac charters will continue operating daily from Juba to Nairobi as needed, reported Air Cargo World.
CEO of Astral Aviation, Sanjeev Gadhia, said the fighting has caused a backlog of 100 tonnes of cargo that has been consigned for South Sudan. Normally, Astral carries an average of 50 tonnes of cargo per week between the two neighbouring countries.
While a cease-fire was called on and the airport has reopened since being forced to close on Sunday, the peace is considered tenuous at best, according to local media.
The carrier hoped to resume cargo flights later in the month.
Astral joins other carriers RwandAir and Kenya Airways, which have also suspended flights to Juba, said a report in The East African.
In addition, the Siginon Group, also from Kenya, has suspended cargo service by truck to the South Sudanese capital.
Astral, however, has not been idle in the region, chartering an evacuation flight to protect South Sudanese civilians from the violence. On July 12, Astral operated a Fokker 100 charter aircraft, carrying 96 passengers from Juba to Nairobi. The carrier said these evac charters will continue operating daily from Juba to Nairobi as needed, reported Air Cargo World.
CEO of Astral Aviation, Sanjeev Gadhia, said the fighting has caused a backlog of 100 tonnes of cargo that has been consigned for South Sudan. Normally, Astral carries an average of 50 tonnes of cargo per week between the two neighbouring countries.
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