A chartered Boeing 737-300 cargo aircraft for Ariana Afghan Airlines has arrived at Kabul International Airport and is expected to be used for commercial freight, Pajhwok Afghan News reported on September 21.
The General Directorate of State-Owned Corporations said the aircraft can carry around 17 tonnes of commercial goods per flight. Ariana Afghan Airlines has signed a one-year agreement with UAE-based Air Charter Express to operate the aircraft, according to the directorate.
Officials said the additional cargo capacity is intended to help Afghan traders move products and other commercial goods to international markets more quickly and at lower cost.
The arrival adds dedicated freight capacity to Afghanistan's aviation sector at a time when exporters remain heavily dependent on regional transport routes and air links for higher-value or time-sensitive goods.
The initial announcement did not provide a full route schedule, frequency of flights or detailed pricing for the cargo service. Those operational details will determine how much the aircraft changes export capacity in practice.
The report concerns a charter arrangement rather than the purchase of a new aircraft by Ariana Afghan Airlines.