Astral Aviation (8V, Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta) has begun a B767-300ER(BDSF) service between Hong Kong International and Brisbane International on behalf of start-up AUS Air Cargo, with 5Y-SVR (msn 24146) operating the first roundtrip flight over May 27 and 28, 2025.

"We are excited to expand our operations with this new route, offering enhanced cargo capacity and flexibility for our partners," Astral Aviation CEO Sanjeev Gadhia said on LinkedIn.

Astral Aviation is an established cargo airline that also operates a B737-400(F) and a B767-200(SF). It conducts scheduled flights to 13 airports across Africa, plus Dubai World Central and Hong Kong. The Brisbane flights are an extension of the existing Hong Kong services.

Perth-based AUS Air Cargo is headed by Satvir Kalsi, who is also Astral Aviation's commercial director in the United Arab Emirates. He says the Brisbane flights are an opportunity to shift high-value perishable products into North Asia quickly and that there are plans to begin operating flights from Sydney Kingsford Smith, Melbourne Airport, and Perth International using wet-leased Astral aircraft.