Astral Aviation (8V, Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta) will become the A320-200(P2F)'s global launch operator after it announced it would lease two aircraft of the type from ST Engineering through Vaayu Group.

The first of the pair, msn 2737, is currently completing its P2F conversion process at Singapore Seletar ahead of its delivery to Kenya in May 2022. Though it has yet to enter the conversion line, the second aircraft, msn 2724, will tentatively arrive in January 2023, Astral's chief executive, Sanjeev Gadhia, told ch-aviation.

Together, the two A320 freighters will supplement Astral's existing fleet of two B727-200(F)s, one B767-200(SF), one DC-9-30(CF), one Fokker 27(F), alongside two B747-400(F)s wet-leased from Air Atlanta Icelandic (CC, Reykjavik Keflavik). The carrier is also due three B757-200(PCF)s from US-based Aquila Air Capital.

The A320P2F can handle 10 ULD containers + one pallet position on the main deck, and seven ULD containers on the lower deck. It can haul a payload of 17 tonnes up to 4,700 kilometres and 21 tonnes over 3,300 kilometres making it ideal for established general freight and express markets. As such, the A320/321P2F’s fly-by-wire cockpit commonality with the A330 widebody family of passenger and freighter aircraft has lead Astral to consider other Airbus offerings.

"We are truly honored to be the launch operator for the A320P2F which is also the first Airbus in Astral's fleet of 14 freighter aircraft. The Airbus range of freighter aircraft are impressive and will add immense value to Astral's fleet and network expansion, which will result in Astral considering future freighter aircraft acquisitions of the A320, A321-200(P2F), A330-300(P2F), and A350F," Gadhia added