Ports

Nairobi Cargo Hub Expands Beyond Flowers as Two-Way Trade Accelerates

Nairobi is evolving into a comprehensive air cargo gateway for East Africa, moving beyond its historical dependence on flower exports. Turkish Cargo operates four weekly freighter services to the Kenyan capital, now ranking among the carrier's busiest African operations. Shipments from Nairobi connect to 132 destinations through Istanbul, with Europe representing the largest destination, followed by the Far East and Americas. Ground handler Çelebi Aviation assumed Turkish Airlines' handling operations at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in August, adding the carrier to its growing Kenyan customer roster alongside British Airways, Emirates SkyCargo, Network Airlines and Astral Aviation. New cargo flows encompass ecommerce, pharmaceuticals and time-sensitive shipments alongside perishables. Kenya's proximity to the Indian Ocean and regional road and rail networks position Nairobi as a critical logistics hub for broader East African trade corridors.