AIR CARG O WEEK


WEEKLY NEWS BY Edward HARDY


THE Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) is one of the most ambitious undertakings in African aviation history. Backed by 34 countries that together represent 80 percent of the continent’s aviation market, the agreement is designed to liberalise intra-African air services and eliminate restrictive bilateral air service agreements. The potential is vast—but progress has been slower than many had hoped. “Implementation remains slower than anticipated due to high fees and protectionist policies,” explains Jade da Costa, Director of Aero Africa. “Projections suggest a 51 percent increase in traffic and a 26


reduction in fares once SAATM is fully implemented. The potential is significant.” For companies like Aero Africa, SAATM represents more than policy—it’s a major operational turning point. With an 84-airport network, Aero Africa sees SAATM as a clear path to lower regulatory barriers and reduce costs. “This would ultimately benefit our clients through improved connectivity and lower rates,” says da Costa. But until full implementation becomes reality, logistics providers must continue to navigate a fragmented and often protectionist landscape where landing rights and cargo space remain premium commodities.


Overcoming fragmentation Africa’s logistics landscape is famously fragmented—rife with inconsistent customs processes,


HOW SAATM IS RESHAPING INTRA-AFRICAN AIRFREIGHT


percent


infrastructure gaps, and service variability across


borders. For freight forwarders and logistics providers, this creates complexity and inefficiency. Aero Africa’s solution? A neutral wholesale model that offers integrated airfreight services across the continent with a focus on standardisation. “Africa’s logistics market is highly fragmented, creating challenges for most companies,” says da Costa. “Our neutral wholesale model addresses this by providing centralised coordination across multiple markets with standardised processes.” This means clients can skip the exhausting patchwork of varying local vendors and instead tap into a unified platform with single-point accountability. “Rather than managing relationships with numerous local providers of varying quality, clients access our unified platform spanning multiple continents with consistent service standards,” he adds. The approach not only improves operational reliability, but also reduces administrative burdens and streamlines communication across regions. That’s especially important in West Africa, where unique challenges are exacerbated by political instability and infrastructure shortfalls. “West Africa faces substantial challenges including high cargo handling fees— often exceeding US$100 per shipment versus US$30 in Europe—inadequate infrastructure even at key airports, and geopolitical instability,” says da Costa. “We navigate these complexities by leveraging multiple carrier partnerships and by adopting a hands-on approach built on our local experience.”


Gateway strategies and growing capacity Aero Africa’s “Gateway Africa” model is a key part of its solution to fragmented customs and infrastructure. By using strategic regional hubs in cities like Johannesburg, Nairobi, Casablanca, Accra, and Dakar, the company bypasses traditional bottlenecks with smarter routing and reliable consolidation. “Our integrated approach overcomes fragmented customs and infrastructure issues through strategic hub utilisation and local expertise,” da Costa explains. “By maintaining operations in key gateways... we create reliable and affordable options that circumvent traditional bottlenecks.” These strategies align with broader trends of growing capacity on the continent. Airlines like Kenya Airways and Ethiopian Airlines are investing in


fleet upgrades—such as 737-800 freighters—and infrastructure


developments including new e-commerce facilities. “This represents substantial capacity increases, particularly for


time-


sensitive goods,” says da Costa. “For our clients, this expansion translates to more options and in turn, more competitive rates.” For global freight forwarders operating in and out of Africa, Aero Africa’s expanding footprint—particularly in South Africa, Kenya, Morocco, Egypt and China—is also proving essential. “Africa is a massive continent with 54 countries, each with different regulations, customs processes, and infrastructure challenges,” da Costa notes.


“We provide single-point


accountability with local expertise, consistent service delivery no matter how complex the routing.”


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www.aircargoweek.com


28 JULY 2025 ACW


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