Air cargo remains the main transport mode for Kenya’s fresh produce exports, supporting the movement of flowers, fruit, and vegetables to European markets where transit time is a key factor for product quality.
According to the latest figures, Kenya’s horticulture exports reached US$195.6 million in the third quarter of 2025. The Netherlands was the largest destination with US$68.7 million, followed by the United Kingdom at US$27.9 million. France, Germany, the United Arab Emirates, Spain, Saudi Arabia, and Kazakhstan were also among the main export markets. Kenya’s horticulture sector generates more than US$1.2 billion annually and supports more than 200,000 jobs.
At Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, perishables account for more than 80 to 83 per cent of export cargo volume, according to Jacob Bwana. Flowers represent more than half of export volumes, with fruit and vegetables making up the remainder. The airport handled more than 404,240 tons of cargo in 2025, with perishables accounting for about 77 per cent of monthly throughput.
The Africa-Europe perishables trade lane has developed into a specialised air freight network serving temperature-sensitive products. According to International Air Transport Association data, African air cargo demand increased by 6 per cent year on year in 2025 and continued to grow into 2026.
“High-value, low-weight goods like flowers and fruits are ideally suited for air freight,” Bwana said. “Freshness directly determines price.”
Airlines continue to expand temperature-controlled logistics for the sector. According to Khalid Al Hinai, perishables account for more than 85 per cent of cargo exported from Africa on Emirates SkyCargo aircraft.
“The Africa-Europe trade lane alone represents about one-third of all African perishables exports,” he said.
The carrier links origins including Nairobi, Cairo, Entebbe, Accra, and Johannesburg with European destinations via Dubai. Lufthansa Cargo also serves the sector through freighter and belly capacity, operating from multiple African gateways into its Frankfurt hub with 145 weekly connections across the continent.
