Kenya: Air Freight Trade Via Moi Airport Takes a Nose Dive

The once flourishing air freight trade through Moi International Airport, Mombasa, has taken a nose dive following cancellation of flights to the European Union due to the post-election violence that rocked parts of the country.

The EU is the destination market for fresh fish and vegetables that are exported through the airport.

Stakeholders note that the airport was set to become an attractive air cargo shipment hub after some airlines introduced direct flights between some European cities and Mombasa.

The direct flights led to an influx of fresh vegetables from as far as Dar-es-Salaam in Tanzania as most exporters opted to use Moi airport rather than Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi.

And driven by the market forces, the only four international flights (Condor, Edelweiss, Euro-Cypria and Monarch) making uneven visits to the airport are now charging over 100 per cent above normal rates for cargo destined for the EU.

"Fish and vegetable exporters to European markets used to pay 2.5 dollars per kilogramme last year, but after the suspension of most flights they are now paying above five dollars per kg. This has caused most fishmongers from Kisumu, Mombasa, Entebbe and Mwanza to abandon the trade," said Kenya Airways operations controller, Ronald Mungatsia.

In 2002, according to statistics provided by the Kenya Airport Authority (KAA), the airport registered a throughput of 2,894, 543kg, which rose to 4, 808,000kg in 2003, while in 2004 the airport recorded yet another remarkable growth to 6,789, 325kg.

In 2005, the throughput increased to 8,175, 017kgs, while in 2006 it hit an all time high of 9,598, 195kg. However, the trade slowed down last year when cargo throughput dwindled by almost 300,000kg to 9,296,268kg - a scenario KAA attributed to post- election tension.