Singapore Airlines Cargo, deploying B747-400 aircraft, has started a weekly service to Nairobi, Kenya from Johannesburg which flies on to Brussels carrying fish and flowers.

Nairobi has become the fourth city in Africa and the 75th destination in the Singapore Airlines network, said a company statement. The new service will boost the growing freight business links between Kenya and Singapore.

Kenya is a growing trading partner with countries in the southeast Asia. Bilateral trade has been steadily rising with information technology and telecommunications equipment, pharmaceuticals and electronics being the bulk of imports while flowers and agricultural produce make up most exports from east Africa.

"We look forward to serving the people of Kenya by providing trade links not only between our two countries but between southeast Asia, southwest Pacific and other key markets," said Mr Zainul Aljunied, Singapore Airlines vice president for the Middle East, north Africa, Pakistan and Turkey.

Weekly flights until October 21 depart from Singapore at 1520 hrs arriving in Johannesburg at 1940 hrs, then leaving for Nairobi at 2150 hrs and arriving there at 0235 hrs Monday. The aircraft then departs for Brussels at 0435 hrs, arriving at 1230 hrs.

Completing the rotation until October 22, the B747-400 aircraft leaves Brussels at 1505 hrs on Mondays for Johannesburg, arriving at 0150 hrs, then leaves for Singapore at 0415 hrs Sundays, arriving at 2045 hrs.