At a Glance
- Çelebi Aviation acquires Transglobal Cargo for $40 million, enters Kenya market.
- Jomo Kenyatta Airport sees rising cargo, passenger traffic, Kenya outpaces global growth.
- Transglobal integration strengthens Çelebi’s Africa network, supporting regional trade and logistics.
Çelebi Aviation has entered Kenya’s aviation services market after completing the acquisition of Transglobal Cargo Centre Ltd (“AFS”) for $40.1 million, the company said. The deal gives the Türkiye-based aviation group a foothold at one of East Africa’s busiest airports as it broadens its operations beyond Europe and Asia.
The acquisition covers 100% of Transglobal Cargo Centre, a Nairobi-based provider of ground handling, air-cargo and warehousing services at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
Kenya Aviation growth outpaces global
Jomo Kenyatta International Airport is a key gateway for passenger and cargo traffic across East and Central Africa. AFS handles air cargo, warehousing, and ground services at a hub that processes roughly 20% of Kenya’s annual air cargo volume, estimated at 400,000 tonnes.
Industry data show Kenya’s aviation market is expected to expand at an average rate of about 5% annually over the next five years, above the global growth estimate of 3.3% cited by the International Air Transport Association.
Çelebi said the transaction brings Nairobi into its global operating network, adding to existing operations in Germany, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Tanzania and Türkiye.
Çelebi enters Kenya via Transglobal
Founded more than six decades ago, Çelebi Aviation provides ground handling and cargo services to more than 400 airline customers across three continents.
The company said the Transglobal acquisition marks its first operation in Kenya and reflects a longer-term focus on Africa, where air travel and cargo demand continue to rise alongside trade and population growth.
Dave Dorner, Çelebi Aviation’s group chief executive, described Kenya as a central link for regional commerce.
“Kenya is a key gateway for trade and cargo flows across East and Central Africa,” Dorner said. “By welcoming Transglobal into the Çelebi group, we are reinforcing our presence in a market that plays a vital role in regional connectivity.”
He said the company plans to combine Transglobal’s local knowledge with Çelebi’s operational systems and service standards to support airlines operating through Nairobi.
Transglobal operations continue uninterrupted in Kenya
Çelebi said all existing services, staffing arrangements and customer commitments at Transglobal will continue without interruption. Any future changes to infrastructure or operating processes will be carried out in consultation with airline customers and relevant Kenyan authorities, the company added.
The group said the focus in the near term will be on maintaining service quality while integrating Transglobal into its wider network, as Nairobi grows in importance as a regional cargo and passenger hub.
