• Kenya’s Astral Aviation has flown a WHO charter with 12 tonnes of emergency medical supplies to the Democratic Republic of Congo, supporting Ebola outbreak response efforts.
• The mission underscores Astral’s growing role as a key humanitarian air cargo operator in Africa, moving up to 3,000 tonnes of relief shipments annually for UN agencies and NGOs.

Kenya-based Astral Aviation has operated a World Health Organization (WHO) charter flight carrying 12 tonnes of emergency medical supplies to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), as part of efforts to combat the country’s latest Ebola outbreak, says in Logistics Update Africa.

The consignment departed from WHO’s Emergency Response and Preparedness hub in Nairobi on an Astral Boeing 737-400F. According to WHO, the shipment included personal protective equipment for 120 frontline health workers for one month, along with patient isolation kits and critical water, sanitation, and hygiene supplies.

Astral Aviation CEO Sanjeev Gadhia noted in a recent interview that the carrier works closely with UN agencies, including WFP, UNICEF, UNHCR, WHO, as well as the Red Cross/Red Crescent, NGOs such as IOM, MSF, and Save the Children, and regional governments to deliver aid across Africa.

“On average, we transport between 1,000–3,000 tonnes of humanitarian cargo annually, depending on the scale of emergencies,” Gadhia said. “This includes food aid, healthcare shipments, medical equipment, and non-food relief items such as tents, water purification systems, and solar lamps.”

He added that Astral supports humanitarian organisations through both scheduled and charter flights, serving over 50 destinations across Africa. During crises such as drought, floods, epidemics, and conflict, the carrier frequently operates in the Horn of Africa, the Great Lakes region, and parts of Southern Africa.

The DRC has faced recurring Ebola outbreaks in recent years, prompting rapid international interventions. WHO’s quick deployment of supplies via Astral highlights the critical role regional air cargo operators play in bridging the “last mile” during emergencies.

✈ Today, @WHO shipped 12 tonnes of emergency medical supplies and equipment from its Emergency Response and Preparedness hub in #Nairobi 🇰🇪 to support the #DRC 🇨🇩 Ebola outbreak response. The consignment includes personal protective equipment able to serve 120 frontline workers… pic.twitter.com/MLZfV55sgI

— WHO African Region (@WHOAFRO) September 7, 2025