The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority is investigating three local airlines over allegations that they were carrying miraa cargo on the Nairobi-Somalia route using aircraft not configured for freight.
KCAA director-general Gilbert Kibe said the regulator was looking into the matter and warned that any operator found to have breached aviation rules could lose its licence.
“We are investigating the matter and that means I don’t have much to tell you at this point,” Mr Kibe said.
The regulator had already directed that only cargo-configured aircraft should transport goods. Under the Civil Aviation (Amendment) Act 2016 and the Civil Aviation Act (2013), operators are required to comply with safety rules covering both passenger and cargo carriage.
KCAA said passenger aircraft may only load cargo in specific compartments, while freight aircraft are expected to have special fittings that secure goods on board.
The airlines flying between Nairobi and Mogadishu include Silverstone, Skyward Express, Jetways, Bluebird Aviation, FlySax Aviation and Juba Airways. Kenya Airways had planned to begin the route on November 15, 2018, but pushed the launch to December 5, citing “operational requirements beyond its control.”
KCAA said the use of passenger aircraft for cargo would not be tolerated and that enforcement action was under way. The regulator also warned that violations could expose Kenya-registered aircraft to broader sanctions from international air transport bodies such as the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
The investigation came after KCAA earlier withdrew Jetways’ certificate over miraa flights to Somalia before completion of its premises at the Kenya Airfreight Holding Centre. That inquiry also found the airline’s warehouse lacked a Kenya Revenue Authority customs centre, as required by law.
Jetways’ licence was restored two weeks later after KCAA said the alleged security breaches did not occur from the airline’s facility. The regulator said the airline had the required regulated agent certificate, including the KRA customs presence on site, and that it also had modern security screening equipment.
