National carrier Kenya Airways has not been listed among 14 airlines that have signed agreements for the distribution of the Covid-19 vaccines worldwide. – By Gerald Gekara.
However, Nairobi-based Astral Aviation and regional giant Ethiopian Airways have secured deals to transport the super-cold vaccine dose.
Airlines shortlisted for the vaccine haul include; AirBridgeCargo, Air France/KLM, Emirates SkyCargo, Brussels Airlines, Cargolux, Cathay Pacific, Etihad Airways, IAG Cargo, Korean Air, Lufthansa Cargo, Qatar Airways, Saudia, Singapore Airlines, and United Airlines.
The initiative is run under the COVAX Facility, a global initiative to ensure participating countries have fair access to vaccines, regardless of their income level.
The dashed hopes come at the backdrop of Kenya Airways’ decision to convert the Boeing 787 dreamliner into a cargo freghter.
The colourful event was preceded with the launching a modern pharma cargo facility at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in hopes of securing the crucial vaccine deal.
