Kenya flower exporters are seeking more cargo capacity in the Kenya Airways’ direct flight to the US to enable them to export enough produce to meet increasing demand.
According to the Kenya Flower Council CEO Clement Tulezi, the airline management allocated five tonnes of cargo capacity to exporters of agricultural products which include horticulture and apparels among others, during the airline’s direct flight route launch to the US last year October. Of this, only two tonnes is allocated for flowers.
“The two tonnes capacity for the flower exporters is just a drop in the ocean as compared to the current market demand of more than 10 tonnes. If what we are delivering in New York is a small quantity, it will not be able to create the necessary hype around the Kenyan flower brand,” said Tulezi.