Kenya Airways has won the African Cargo Airline of the Year award for the second year running.

The award was presented to Kenya Airways cargo division during the STAT Times International Award for Excellence in Air Cargo event which is organised by STAT Trade Times, a monthly India-based aviation and air cargo publication.

The event, which was held in South Africa, was attended by global air cargo players who included Etihad Cargo, National Air Cargo and South African Airways Cargo.

“Receiving this prestigious award is a great honour and a powerful endorsement by our customers of our focus and dedication to providing the highest levels of service. It sets us apart in the increasingly competitive African region and confirms that we are on the right track,” said Dick Murianki, the general manager of KQ Cargo.

This was third edition of the biennial Air Cargo Africa awards.

KQ Cargo transports goods in 20 countries across three continents.

Winners of the event were picked by readers of the STAT Trade Times, who nominate their preferred carrier through online voting.

Currently, the African market remains a key market for KQ, but the airline is banking on the new route to Hanoi in Vietnam to grow cargo traffic to the Asian countries.

Kenya Airways is the first to directly connect Africa to Hanoi and is targeting electronic and textile traders sourcing for products from Vietnam.

READ: KQ, Ethiopian to launch more flights to Japan and Vietnam

African cargo services grew by 6.1 per cent ahead of Asia and Europe, according to aircargoworld.com. The International Air Transport Association has also predicted a growth in the air cargo services across the world.

Cargolux Airlines International emerged the International All-Cargo carrier of the year for the third time. The carrier boasts an extensive network with direct air cargo services between Houston, New York, Accra and Lagos.