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CCN Cargo Charter Network

Nairobi NBO → United States

Kenya to USA air cargo charter

Freighter capacity from Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta (NBO) to New York, Chicago and Los Angeles for cargo that scheduled belly space cannot take in time.

Freighter tail on a cargo apron

Leg distances

  • NBO Nairobi → JFK New York

    11,837 km[1][2]

    Beyond 777F range at maximum payload: stop or reduced load.

  • NBO Nairobi → ORD Chicago

    12,909 km[1]

    Stop required for a full freighter.

  • NBO Nairobi → LAX Los Angeles

    15,573 km[1]

    Stop required for every freighter type.

  • NBO Nairobi → LGG Liège

    6,502 km[1][2][4]

    Example of a European stop: inside 777F and 747-400F range.

  • LGG Liège → JFK New York

    5,959 km[1]

    Second leg after a European stop.

Airport and aircraft reference

  • Nairobi NBO elevation

    ≈ 1,600 m[3]

  • Boeing 777F — range at maximum payload (102,010 kg)

    9,200 km[2]

  • Boeing 747-400F — design range (payload 112,900 kg)

    8,250 km[4]

  • Kenya — FAA safety rating

    Category 1[5]

NBO–JFK: Nairobi to New York

New York is the shortest US gateway from Nairobi and the most practical one for a full freighter. The usual plan is two legs: Nairobi to a European cargo hub and on across the Atlantic. Via Liège, for example, the legs are 6,502 km and 5,959 km — both comfortably inside freighter range at full payload.

A one-leg flight is possible only with fewer tonnes on board. Whether it pays off depends on your weight: below the reduced payload limit, the saved landing and the shorter transit win; above it, the stop is cheaper than a second aircraft.

[1][2][4]

NBO–LAX: Nairobi to Los Angeles

At 15,573 km Los Angeles is out of reach for any freighter in one leg. Routings run either east across Asia or west across the Atlantic and the continental US.

For cargo that ends up in the western US, compare the charter to Los Angeles with a charter to New York or Chicago and onward trucking — the second option is sometimes faster to arrange.

[1]

Nairobi's altitude and the take-off weight

At about 1,600 m above sea level, a heavy freighter in Nairobi needs more runway than at a coastal airport, and the effect grows with temperature. Operators therefore plan heavy departures at night or early in the morning. When we compare offers, we ask for the take-off weight the operator confirms for your slot, not the brochure payload.

[3]

Plan a charter from Nairobi

The form opens with Nairobi (NBO) as origin. Add the US destination, tonnage and ready date. No account needed.

Request a Charter Quote

Use the aircraft that is already flying to Nairobi

Freighters that bring cargo into Nairobi need a load out. CCN buys capacity on Liège–Nairobi and knows which aircraft rotate on this lane. A northbound charter that uses the return of an inbound rotation avoids paying for an empty positioning flight; whether such a rotation fits your date is checked per enquiry.

[6]

Kenyan export side

Export customs is lodged by a licensed clearing agent in Kenya. Plant products such as cut flowers and fresh produce also need a phytosanitary certificate from the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service. Perishables need the cold chain planned from the farm to the aircraft door, including cooled storage close to the cargo terminal.

US arrival requirements

Before loading, advance cargo data must be filed with CBP under the Air Cargo Advance Screening rule. The operator must hold US authority for the charter. On arrival an importer of record and a US customs broker clear the cargo; perishables may need USDA or FDA clearance in addition.

[7][8]

Related pages

Questions

How far is Nairobi from New York by air?

11,837 km great-circle distance between NBO and JFK. For a full freighter that is beyond the 9,200 km range Boeing states for the 777F at maximum payload.

Does a cargo flight from Nairobi to the USA need a stop?

With a full load, yes — typically in Europe. A one-leg flight to New York is possible only with a reduced payload. Los Angeles always needs a stop.

Can I charter only part of a freighter from Kenya to the USA?

Yes, if an aircraft is already flying the lane on your date. Otherwise a full charter or scheduled belly capacity are the options; we compare them for your tonnage.

Which US airport is best for cargo from Kenya?

New York JFK is the shortest gateway. Chicago O'Hare and Los Angeles work when the cargo's final destination is there; compare them with trucking from New York.

Plan a charter from Nairobi

The form opens with Nairobi (NBO) as origin. Add the US destination, tonnage and ready date. No account needed.

Request a Charter Quote