Aero-Link set to grow portfolio

The offices of Aero-Link Consulting in Kempton Park are a hive of activity. “We are aggressively looking at expanding our business in the coming months,” says managing director Jeremy Anandkumar. Having been appointed cargo handling representative for Air Seychelles effective January 1, negotiations with other carriers are under way. “We are committed to growing our portfolio and in some cases our negotiations with prospective new clients is already in a very advanced stage.” Having also recently been appointed general sales and service agents for Air Malawi, 2010 is set to be a big year for the company. “There is no doubt that 2009 was a tough year – not just in South Africa but globally. It was also a year in which we learnt some very valuable lessons,” says Anandkumar. “We believe our decision some three years ago to diversify is what took us through the financial crisis.” Anandkumar says part of the company's growth strategy is therefore about increasing its client base. “We believe it is about working smarter but also about diversifying with a bigger base. Add to that having the right people in place with the right attitudes and you have a winning formula.” According to Anandkumar it is also about being involved with one’s customers. “The extension of our Air Seychelles contract is related to our close working relationship with them.” He says the target for the company is now to improve yields for the airline which operates a Boeing 767 twice weekly on a Friday and Sunday to South Africa from the Seychelles. “We have already seen a significant improvement in cargo volumes compared to 2009 – not only on this route, but on other carriers’ routes as well. This bodes well for our plans to grow the business in the coming months.”