Sanjeev S Gadhia is the Founder and CEO of Astral Aviation Ltd which is a dedicated all- cargo airline based in Nairobi, Kenya and operates a fleet of fourteen cargo aircrafts, from its hubs in Nairobi, Johannesburg, Dubai and Hong Kong, into Europe, Middle East, Asia and within Africa.

Operating one of the most successful airlines in Africa for 23 years, Sanjeev is responsible for the strategic management and fleet acquisition for Astral Aviation, along with its Pan African expansion strategy, which entails two new cargo hubs in West and Southern Africa, including diversification into Airport Infrastructure, Executive Jets and Unmanned Cargo Aircrafts.

Sanjeev is the recipient of the following awards

1. Winner African Aviacargo Man of the Year / Chinet Aviation & Cargo Awards 2023
2. Ato Girma Wake / AviaDev Africa Lifetime Achievement Award 2022
3. Aviators Africa Changemaker Award 2021
4. Innovation Leadership Award by World Federation of Innovation Professionals
5. “New Generation Leader for Africa” by African Leadership Network,

In 2020, Sanjeev was appointed Chairman of AFRAA’s (African Airlines Association) Cargo & Route Network Committee based on his extensive experience in the air-cargo sector in Africa.

In 2017, Sanjeev became the first Director from Africa in TIACA (The International Air Cargo Association) and is currently Board Member and Trustee.

In 2023, Kenya Association of Air Operators invited Sanjeev to join the Board of Directors to represent the interest of the air-cargo sector in Kenya

A banker by profession, Sanjeev has a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from the Schiller International University in London, in addition to being a past-member of EO Kenya (Entrepreneurs Organization) and active member of YPO (Young Professional’s Organization) Africa Great Lakes and Kenya Chapters.