Not all Kenya Airways passengers walked on two legs this week.
On Monday, October 27, the national carrier airlifted over 50 live cows from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi to Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, Nigeria, in its first-ever dedicated livestock charter.
The unusual VIPs were flown aboard a KQ Cargo Boeing 737-800 freighter, with photos showing the animals secured in ventilated metal crates on the apron.
The five-hour trip was handled under Kenya Airways’ specialized live-animal product, KQ Live, which uses temperature regulation, ventilation and veterinary checks to ensure animal welfare.
“Moo-ve over, traffic! Our VIP cattle are taking to the skies in search of greener pastures,” the airline joked in a post on X.
Cargo Director Fitsum Abadi said the operation required meticulous planning and close coordination, and demonstrates the airline’s ability to handle complex, specialized cargo across Africa.
The flight marks a strategic push for KQ Cargo, which saw cargo revenue jump 18% to Ksh8.77 billion this year as it targets high-value freight like pharmaceuticals, perishables and now livestock.
