AIR CARG O WEEK


WEEKLY NEWS BY Ajinkya GURAV


AIRBUS'S inauguration of a Customer Support Centre in Johannesburg marks a pivotal moment in Africa’s aviation and cargo landscape. Situated near O.R. Tambo International Airport— Africa’s


busiest cargo hub—the new facility strengthens


regional logistics infrastructure, enhances aircraf t availability, and supports the continent’s trade integration goals. More than just commercial expansion, this development


reflects Airbus’s policy-aligned approach to unlocking Africa’s latent air cargo potential. With IATA projecting a 5.5 percent annual growth rate in African air freight through 2030, strategic investments like this are crucial to reducing aircraft downtime and improving trade ef ficiency. Serving the full Airbus commercial fleet—from the A220 to the


A350—the centre supports over 260 Airbus aircraft operated by nearly 40 African carriers. With rising narrowbody demand for intra-African routes,


a critical boost in operational


localised maintenance capabilities of fer reliability,


AIRBUS EXPANDS MAINTENANCE FOOTPRINT IN AFRICA


reducing Aircraf t on


Ground (AOG) delays, ferry costs, and turnaround times. “Enhancing our physical presence in Africa is about more than


just support—it’s about partnering for progress,” said Gabriel Semelas, Airbus President for the Middle East and Africa. “We are investing in the region’s aviation future.”


Trade and policy goals The support hub directly aligns with the African Union’s goals under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM). These initiatives aim to remove trade barriers and harmonise aviation regulation across


the continent. However, to


Africa requires more than agreements—it needs functioning infrastructure and skilled personnel. Airbus’s services—ranging from flight-hour support to spare


provisioning and training—help reinforce these policy frameworks. For air freight carriers moving perishables, pharmaceuticals, and time-sensitive goods, reliable maintenance access translates to improved schedule integrity and compliance with standards like IATA’s ONE Record and e-freight. South Africa’s O.R. Tambo Airport, already IATA e-freight


compliant, can now serve as a model gateway for integrated logistics, combining OEM-aligned maintenance with digital cargo handling. Crucially, the Johannesburg


facility also addresses


realise these goals,


03


the


continent’s human capital gap. Airbus forecasts Africa will need 14,000 new pilots and 21,000 engineers and technicians by 2045. The support centre incorporates certified training and virtual-reality simulators to help build this capacity and meet new safety and sustainability mandates under ICAO and AFCAC. The impact also extends to local industry. Over 180 African


companies already supply Airbus globally. With South Africa’s Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC) prioritising industrial linkages, the centre could anchor SME integration into global aerospace supply chains—supporting localisation, compliance, and inclusive economic growth. Africa’s high logistics cost-to-GDP ratio—estimated at 13 to


15 percent—is largely driven by inef ficiencies in maintenance, handling, and clearance. Airbus’s proximity to Africa’s primary cargo hub helps mitigate these constraints, particularly for high-value sectors such as agribusiness,


tech assembly, and


healthcare. As


African cargo carriers increasingly adopt predictive


maintenance and digital tracking systems, OEMs like Airbus will play a key role in enabling data-driven fleet operations. Platforms like Airbus’s Skywise could support African operators in forecasting parts needs, optimising per formance, and reducing emissions in line with global ESG standards. This facility marks a strategic evolution in how global OEMs


engage with Africa. It reflects a transition from transactional sales models to embedded partnerships that support long-term operational


readiness, human development, and regional trade


coherence. As Gabriel Semelas concluded: “We are not


just supporting aircraf t—we are supporting


ambitions, economies, and the next generation of flight across Africa.”


www.aircargoweek.com


04 AUGUST 2025 ACW


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