The African airfreight and logistics market is on an upward trajectory.
That much is clear from investment in new and converted freighter aircraft and cargo drones, consolidation in the cargo ground handling sector, and the acquisition of a large specialist freight forwarder by a shipping line.
Here are some of the significant developments:
- Kenya-based cargo airline Astral Aviation is expanding its 14-strong freighter fleet with three Boeing B757-200Fs and two Airbus A320 P2Fs.
- Ethiopian Airways has booked an order for five current production line B777 freighters and has an MoU for a further five of the next-generation B777-8 freighters. All of this on top of the nine B777Fs it currently operates. The airline has also invested heavily in new cargo terminal capacity at its home hub of Addis Ababa and it received Iata’s CEIV Pharma in December last year.
- Air Senegal plans to increase frequencies by nearly 60% with widebody aircraft on its intra-African network.
- Corsair has added a new route to Bamako in the Ivory Coast, operating 41 flights for the summer season.
- Magma Aviation, a client of Globe Air Cargo, is planning to add two new B777 freighters at the end of 2024.
Another area of innovation in the African cargo market is the use of drones. German drone delivery pioneer Wingcopter, and Continental Drones have partnered to help establish drone-based delivery networks in Africa, with thousands of Wingcopter drones across the continent.
National Aviation Services (NAS) has expanded its cargo ground handling footprint through alliances and acquisitions, reports Air Cargo News. NAS had eight cargo warehouses in the African continent prior to Covid; it has since expanded its network by two stations, and now has warehouses in 10 airports. In addition to warehousing, NAS handles cargo as part of its ground handling operations in 21 airports, with 12 of these added in the past 18 months.
The further indication of growth – and of particular significance for MSC’s end-to-end logistics amibitions – was the sale by France’s Bolloré Group of 100% of long-established Bolloré Africa Logistics to MSC Group. The sale went for around €5.7bn (R97.5bn).
