KLM, KENYA AIRWAYS, MARTINAIR FORM JOINT VENTURE

KLM, KENYA AIRWAYS, MARTINAIR FORM JOINT VENTURE    Dutch carriers KLM Cargo and Martinair have signed an agreement with Kenya Airways to form a joint venture cargo sales and service organization in Nairobi.
   The new company will use Jomo Kenyatta International Airport as its hub to link African freight markets to the international route networks of its three founding owners. The joint venture will open its doors in January, and sales offices will be opened in Johannesburg, Lagos and Dubai. Peter Scholten of Martinair has been appointed project manager and managing director of the new company for the first year.
   Through the joint venture, KLM, Martinair and Kenya Airways plan to lease in freighters with 15 to 40 tons capacity to serve the intra-Africa freight market. The three airlines plan to grow the joint venture into an independent all-cargo airline.
   “The new company will tailor its services according to market needs, seek to build new markets in Africa and will proactively participate in the relief goods and ad-hoc charter market within the region,” the carriers said.