Africa SnapShot
To open up its air logistics business, the continent needs more intra-Africa freighter capacity to move goods to and from the major hubs
Africa sees growth
K
enya’s air freight business is definitely changing, according to William Simbah, commercial manager - cargo at Kenya Airport Authority. For example: “The focus is growing more and more on fresh cut
flowers and fresh produce.” In addition: “There is increasing interest shown by
new airlines choosing to call at Jomo Kenyatta International airport (JKIA). This is as a result of growth in the hub as exemplified by the national carrier’s acquisition of a B737 freighter aircraft, which is expected to be delivered in September 2011.” Simbah noted: “I would say that the future of Africa remains in solidifying trade within and among the African countries. This should enhance growth of air freight within Africa,” More regional
Gadhia – continuing to expand in Africa
freighters able to fly between many of the landlocked countries are needed and there is a definite move to put that capacity into place as quickly as possible. Many of the
major hubs – the established giants being Addis Ababa, Johannesburg, Lagos and Nairobi (plus Dubai, which is happy to market itself as a logical hub for African freight) – are being served by an increased number of intercontinental passenger flights as well as the addition of more and more long-haul widebody
28 AIR LOGISTICSCHINA
freighter capacity. But the main hiccup is the ‘last- mile’ sector of the supply chain – and those distances here can be huge, while the infrastructure on the ground is often poor or undeveloped. Nairobi-based freighter operator Astral Aviation has
embarked on a programme of fleet expansion to meet the growing demand for its intra-African network by signing a letter of intent for the acquisition of two MD-83 freighters in 2012. The US$9 million fleet acquisition will provide DC-
9F operator Astral with the extra capacity it needs to offer a wider intra-African network, the company said. According to Astral CEO Sanjeev Gadhia, the
airline will continue to expand within the continent with two additional hubs in West and Southern Africa – planned for 2012 and 2013 respectively – both of which will be served by the MD-83SF.
PLEA FOR INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT Mohamed Osman, vice chairman of Khartoum-based logistics company Darka, remarks that Sudan’s agricultural and livestock exports need more support from international investors, adding: “The plan for the new Khartoum airport is still ongoing ... and already the initial work has started on this huge project” that will “really take air freight handling in this country to the next level of services”. Rozmin Bux, group commercial manager at Kenya-
based forwarder and general sales agent Freight-In- Time (FIT), comments: “There is a lot of optimism in East Africa. Demand is good and there are major oil and gas projects either in the pipeline or starting, for example in Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya.” On the cargo GSA side of the business, Bux said
client airline Ethiopian Airlines is doing well, especially on intra-Africa routes with new aircraft easing “the serious capacity constraints”. Virgin Cargo, the air freight division of UK-based Virgin Atlantic, uplifts perishables and other goods on
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32