African capacity taking off

Af rica has spare airfreight capacity as availability is expanding faster than demand. In August 2024, African airlines reported a 7.5% year-on-year (y-o-y) growth in demand for air cargo, while there was 11.4% more capacity, according to the International Air Transport Association (Iata).Double-digit annual growth in volumes between Africa and Asia since mid-2023 continued into August, with volumes up 21.1% compared to August 2023.This follows July’s 6.2% annual increase in air cargo demand, which was the lowest of all regions and was the weakest performance of African airlines in 2024, according to Iata.The organisation reports that the declaration of Mpox as a public health emergency did not have a noticeable impact on volumes, despite the outbreak being concentrated in Africa.It is not all smooth f lying for African airfreight carriers, however. At 7.5% in August, the continent’s growth was far behind the global average of 11% in air cargo demand.Global air cargo demand increased by 11% y-o-y, with average spot rates climbing 24% compared to the same period in 2023.Demand for airfreight in Africa is expected to be supported by investments in infrastructure spurred by the growth of e-commerce.One of the first is Ethiopian Airlines, which has opened a dedicated $50-million e-commerce logistics facility at the Ethiopian Cargo and Logistics premises at the Addis Ababa Bole International Airport.In April 2024 Kenya Airways took delivery of its second Boeing 737-800 carrier, taking the cargo f leet to four for its KQ Cargo services. This follows a $120m investment in a new cargo facility at the Jomo Kenyatta Airport that became operational in early 2023. The upgrade includes a dedicated cold storage and temperature-controlled handling area to cater for growing e-commerce demand.According to the company’s website, KQ Cargo f lies to over 50 destinations, with one of the most recent additions being a direct service four times a week between Nairobi and Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates. Rwanda is busy building its new $2-billion Bugesera International Airport, which will include a dedicated 150 000-ton-a-year cargo terminal. It is due to open in 2026.Qatar Airways holds a 60% stake in the airport.In South Africa, the Airports Company has announced plans to build a midfield cargo terminal at OR Tambo International, which will push capacity to 750 000 metric tons a year and make the airport “globally competitive”, according to a spokesperson. ER