Kenyans and Canadians plan first "Dreamfreighter"
Kenya Airways and Avianor, a Montreal, Canada-based player in the aerospace industry for more than 25 years, have reached an agreement to collectively repurpose aircraft cabins into cargo transportation on the B787.
This joint effort is a worldwide breakthrough, as it is the first ever cargo repurpose to be performed on the widebody passenger aircraft known as "Dreamliner".
The repurposed cabin has been certified to carry up to 16 t of cargo, enabling the aircraft to reach its maximum payload while in cargo operation (46 t). The repurposing began in last December and was completed in January.
Kenya’s national carrier currently has nine B787 in its fleet, which are primarily used for passenger flights. In 2020, Kenya Airways Cargo used some of them for freight transportation, but aircraft seats remained, limiting the space for an increased freight capacity. (ah)