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The weekly newspaper for air cargo professionals No. 1,368 02 March 2026


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frica’s air cargo market has rarely mirrored the major global trade lanes. While transpacific and Europe–US volumes cooled after the post-pandemic surge, parts of Africa’s network are being reshaped less by cycles and more by structural demand: humanitarian logistics, perishables, pharmaceuticals and


infrastructure-linked project cargo. Sanjeev Gadhia, CEO of Astral Aviation, notes: “While global markets


have normalised following the post-pandemic surge, Africa continues to benefit from strong underlying demand driven by trade flows, humanitarian logistics, perishables, pharmaceuticals, and project cargo.” The reset in airfreight rates has not erased Africa’s core drivers.


Relief operations continue, trade flows remain active and temperature- sensitive shipments are steady. The challenge for operators is converting that resilience into network models capable of absorbing infrastructure gaps, geopolitical volatility and rising costs. The most visible shift is geographical. Growth prospects for 2026 are strongest within the continent,


particularly between East, Central and Southern Africa, with parts of West Africa gaining momentum. Rather than depend primarily on long- haul routes, carriers are repositioning to capture intra-African flows. For Astral Aviation, that recalibration is deliberate. “Looking ahead to 2026, I see the strongest growth in intra-


African corridors, particularly linking East, Central, Southern, and parts of West Africa,” Gadhia says. He adds: “For Astral Aviation, the opportunity lies in strengthening connectivity within Africa, rather than relying solely on traditional long-haul routes.” Continental trade is emerging as a core revenue pillar rather than


a by-product of exports. Secondary airports, historically bypassed by larger operators, are becoming commercially relevant as regional supply chains mature. Infrastructure constraints remain defining. Instead of concentrating capacity in a single hub, Astral has adopted


a flexible, multi-hub and point-to-point model serving both primary and secondary airports. That choice is about survivability as much as ambition. Incremental improvements are visible: enhanced cold-chain handling, improved ramp operations and digital customs at select airports are supporting time- and temperature-sensitive cargo. These upgrades are uneven but significant, reducing dwell time, regulatory


friction and spoilage risk. Infrastructure evolution is closely tied to network economics. Cold-


chain capability supports pharmaceuticals and perishables; digital customs reduces clearance times. These shifts strengthen freighter deployment as trade corridors deepen under continental integration.


Humanitarian logistics as structural demand In Africa, humanitarian operations are not episodic but a recurring pillar of demand. “Humanitarian logistics is at the heart of our business and part of our identity,” says Anthony Mwangi, Charter Manager at Astral Aviation. Founded in 2000 with relief operations at its core, the airline


continues to reflect that legacy in fleet utilisation and network planning. In 2025, Astral conducted multiple relief flights into North and South Sudan, Somalia and Yemen. In January 2026, it operated an air bridge from Dubai to Beira, Mozambique, delivering cargo for flood-affected communities. Such missions require rapid mobilisation, coordination with governments and NGOs, and operations into airports


with limited infrastructure or heightened security risk. Humanitarian flying also reinforces long-term connectivity. Beyond


emergency response, Astral links remote regions to hubs, enabling movement of medicines, vaccines and food while supporting economic integration. Where road or sea alternatives are unreliable, air cargo becomes structural infrastructure rather than a premium option. Fuel volatility, geopolitical instability and supply chain disruption


remain persistent realities. Many routes traverse politically sensitive regions. Gadhia argues that operational


deployment are the only sustainable responses. “Fuel efficiency, optimised routing, and disciplined fleet deployment


are core priorities,” he says, adding that diversification across regions and cargo segments reduces exposure to single-market shocks. By spreading risk across humanitarian, perishable, project and general cargo flows, reliance on any single corridor is limited. Fleet expansion is strategic, emphasising wide-body B767F and B777F aircraft for China–Middle East–Africa flows, alongside B737 freighters suited to African conditions.


flexibility and disciplined


AUSTRALIA’S air freight sector has entered a period of stagnation and transition. After several years marked by global upheaval, supply chain shifts, and surging ...


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Olga Romanova is the founder of CargoHR, an international recruitment agency specialising in Aviation, Air Cargo, and Logistics. She enjoys working with ...


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