Kenya’s national carrier Kenya Airways and Canadian MRO company Avianor have reached an agreement to collectively repurpose the airline’s Boeing 787 cabins into cargo transportation.
This joint effort will be the first-ever cargo repurpose of this type to be performed on the Boeing 787.
The repurposed cabin has been certified to carry up to 16 tonnes of cargo, potentially enabling the aircraft to reach its maximum payload while in cargo operation of 46 tonnes.
The repurposing began in December 2020 and was completed in January 2021.
This joint effort is in response to the growing demand and need for increased cargo capacity in Africa and the rest of the world.
With new conversions, Kenya Airways aims to respond to the ongoing demand for essential and medical goods and supporting future commercial opportunities thereby contributing to the stimulation of the local and regional economies.
In 2020, Kenya Airways used some of its Boeing 787 aircraft for the purposes cargo transportation, though in its classic configuration with passenger seats, it limited the space for increased freight capacity.
With their expertise and engineering certifications, Avianor supervised Kenya Airways’ modifications on the full cabin repurposing of two of the airline’s B787s.
The repurposing of this first Dreamliner has since been completed and Kenya Airways has received airworthiness approval from the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCCA) and Federal Aviation Authority (FAA), and will soon begin cargo flights on the first-ever repurposed certified Dreamliner in the world.
Allan Kilavuka, group managing director and CEO, Kenya Airways, said, “We are excited to be part of the first-ever certified cargo conversion of this type on the Boeing 787 aircraft. It demonstrates our agility, innovation, and quick thinking as well as increases our cargo capability and capacity to keep essential goods moving across the globe.
“Kenya Airways will keep playing its role as a catalyst for economic growth in the continent, by connecting the world to Africa, and Africa to the world for both our cargo and passenger customer segments.”
Meanwhile, Matthieu Duhaime, president and CEO Avianor, said, “Avianor’s team has been pioneering the main deck temporary cargo repurposing process in response to the need for rapid increase in air freight cargo capacity at the onset of the pandemic. We are very excited to now be working with Kenya Airways to adapt this solution for their 787 aircraft. This represents a unique design and certification challenge, and we are thrilled to demonstrate, once again, our ability to find unprecedented solutions to customer needs.”
Gilbert Kibe, director general of the KCAA, also said Kenya Airways was taking a bold innovative step to address the need for additional capacity for cargo and facilitating trade even as the aviation industry recovers through a difficult period.
Article courtesy of Airlinerwatch.
