Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) is set to become the location of the first fresh produce and cargo handling facility in Africa to incorporate a multi-storey ETV (elevating transfer vehicle)-based perishables handling system next month.

The cool-chain ETV system, the final stage in the current phase-in of the airport’s new Transglobal Cargo Centre (TCC), will have the capacity to store 160 pallets - the equivalent of more than four Boeing 747 freighter loads.

The TCC’s facilities also include roller bed access to the temperature-controlled ULD build-up area. The perishables handling area is divided into separate temperature zones to cater for the varying needs of different commodities.

Shippers, agents and regulatory staff will also have access to a dedicated 1,000 sq m perishables inspection and re-packing area.

Located on JKIA’s newly-extended freight apron, with direct airside access, the TCC has already signed up its first two customers, in the shape of Emirates SkyCargo and Nairobi-based Astral Aviation who are currently handled at an existing off-airport terminal.

Perishables constitute a significant proportion of both carriers’ export traffic from JKIA.

As the TCC incorporates full on-site pallet-building facilities for perishables, agent and shipper customers of both airlines will be able to deliver loose perishable cargo direct to the terminal for containerisation or palletisation; this work is currently performed by agents and shippers off-airport.

When the TCC becomes fully operational, it will mark the end of a one and half-year building programme, representing a total investment of £11 million. The state-of-the-art handling complex will have an estimated cargo handling capacity of 250,000 tonnes per annum.

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