African air cargo market in the spotlight

Africa’s share of the global air cargo market might only be 2% in cargo tonne –kilometers, but industry expansion moves in recent weeks have underlined the continent’s significance, long-term growth potential and development opportunities for airlines, forwarders and ground handlers. [caption id="attachment_62910" align="alignright" width="300"] The Anthonij Rupert Wyne estate in Franschhoek, South Africa[/caption] Next week The International Air Cargo Association (TIACA) will stage its first conference in Africa . Taking place in Nairobi, Kenya, its aim is “ to bring the air cargo community together to identify and discuss specific issues that affect the industry at regional level,” according to TIACA. The conference program will focus on all of Africa. Growth despite longstanding issues Africa’s air cargo sector was given a stern test during the pandemic and showed its resilience by adapting to limited air capacity. As in other regions, African carriers succeeded in converting passenger aircraft into preighters, which made a difference on key routes carrying temperature-controlled exports, such as fruit, vegetables and cut flowers, into Europe and the Middle East. Inbound, it facilitated the shipment of finished industrial and consumer goods, as well as pharmaceuticals, including vaccines. Now that COVID has receded, the issues that have hampered African air cargo for many years are back in the spotlight — notably a lack of modern cargo-handling facilities at certain airports — and will doubtless be discussed at the conference. Nevertheless, industry players appear convinced of the African market’s growth potential. Last month Qatar Airways Cargo announced the launch of a regional hub in Kigali, Rwanda, in partnership with national carrier RwandAir . A B777 freighter now flies from Doha, Qatar, to Kigali twice a week. In March, Qatar Airways Cargo set up a three-times weekly intra-Africa service between Kigali and Lagos, Nigeria, and a weekly service from Istanbul, Turkey, via Doha to Kigali, all operated by an Airbus A310 aircraft. New destinations from Kigali are planned. In November , RwandAir took delivery of a B737-800SF dedicated freighter to launch operations within Africa and the Middle East from Kigali. NBO specializing in perishables Last month also saw airport ground services handler Swissport c omplete the expansion and upgrade of its air cargo facilities at Nairobi ’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO). The highlight is a 750-square-meter, interconnected cold storage room facility with direct airside access. Swissport handled 50,000 tonnes of cargo in Kenya last year; 40,000 tonnes were perishable cargo exported from NBO. The trail to Africa continued this month with Kuehne+Nagel announcing the acqui sition of Morgan Cargo , a leading South African, U.K. and Kenyan freight forwarder. S pecializ ing in the transport and handling of perishable goods, the company handled more than 40,000 tonnes of airfreight in 2022. Meanwhile, Denmark’s Scan Global Logistics opened its first office in Nairobi last week to “ strengthen its strategic foothold on the fast-developing African continent,” according to the company. It already operates from several locations in Western Africa. Air Menzies International , a global wholesale freight forwarder and part of Menzies Aviation , announced Tuesday its investment in a new, purpose-built facility near O.R. Tambo International Airport ( JNB) in Johannesburg, South Africa. Cargo airline Astral Aviation inaugurated its maiden flight from Nairobi to Tel Aviv last week, reduc ing the transit time for Kenyan perishables from 24 to five hours.

African air cargo market in the spotlight

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