Kenya Airways Beats All African Airlines To Top Honours

Kenya Airways Cargo (KQ Cargo) was on Friday, February 21 named the Highly Acclaimed African Air Cargo Airline of the Year at the Air Cargo Africa Conference 2025, solidifying its position as a leader in the continent’s cargo industry.

The award, determined through an extensive online voting process by readers of STAT Trade Times, a premier aviation and air cargo publication, recognizes KQ Cargo’s outstanding service, innovation, and contributions to the growth of Africa’s cargo sector.

Speaking at the award ceremony, Kenya Airways’ Head of Cargo, Peter Musola, expressed gratitude for the recognition, stating “We are incredibly honoured to receive this award, especially as Nairobi hosts the Air Cargo Africa Conference for the first time. This achievement is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our entire cargo team.”

From Left: Patrick Mulei, Cargo Manager South Africa, Peter Musola, Head of Cargo at Kenya Airways and Daniel Salaton,  Senior Manager Express Cargo and E-commerce. /PHOTO

Musola further emphasized the airline’s strategic vision, stating, “Africa remains at the heart of our operations, and we are committed to providing innovative, efficient, and reliable cargo solutions that drive trade and economic growth across the continent and beyond.”

The recognition came as Nairobi debuted as the host city for the Air Cargo Africa Conference, marking the first time the event was held in Kenya in its 14-year history. 

This milestone underscores Jomo Kenyatta International Airport’s (JKIA) growing status as a premier African cargo hub, facilitating trade and economic expansion across the region.

The Air Cargo Africa 2025 Conference attracted over 60 exhibitors and more than 2,000 attendees, including key industry leaders in air cargo, freight logistics, and supply chain management.

The event provided a platform for networking, knowledge-sharing, and strengthening partnerships with shippers, freight forwarders, e-tailers, manufacturers, and logistics professionals.

Building on this success, KQ Cargo is set to accelerate its strategic growth, leveraging its extensive network across 20 countries on three continents. The airline remains focused on expanding its freighter operations, increasing capacity, and strengthening partnerships to reinforce its position as Africa’s preferred air cargo provider.

With its recent freighter network expansion and continued commitment to operational excellence, Kenya Airways Cargo is shaping the future of African air cargo, driving efficiency, reliability, and growth across the industry.

In addition to these accolades, Kenya Airways was in the last quarter of 2024 honoured at the 2024 World Travel Awards, where it was recognized as Africa's Leading Airline and awarded in several other categories, including Africa's Leading Airline – Business Class and Africa's Leading Airline Brand.

Meanwhile, JKIA was crowned African Cargo Airport of the Year at the STAT Times International Awards for Excellence in Air Cargo, a prestigious event recognizing excellence in the global air cargo industry.