Airfreight Express - SA cargo airlines get unified voice

Air Cargo Airlines Association of SA is born ALAN PEAT AFTER A call through FTW last February for the establishment of a national, unified voice for SA’s cargo airlines, a body has been formed to represent the interests of these air operators, according to Pat Corbin, director of African International Air, and a founder member of the new Air Cargo Airlines Association of SA (Acaasa). This followed loud complaints from SA registered cargo airlines that a number of foreign freighters were acting illegally. Also that the SA authorities - mainly the Department of Transport (DoT) and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), which are responsible for the issue of permits and control of these movements - weren’t doing enough to curb those who contravene the law. “We wanted a level playing field,” said Corbin. “We didn’t want the chap playing by the rules to be disadvantaged by the one ignoring them.” This led to the formation of Acaasa, which now has this and a number of other issues relevant to the local cargo airline business on the agenda. “Another critical issue was the government programme for the streamlining of road, rail, sea and air transport being planned by the DoT,” said Acaasa chairman, Isaac Makunyane, manager for alliances and network strategies at national flag carrier, SAA. “We needed to participate to make sure that air cargo interests were taken into account in the study.” The unified voice also does away with the previous situation where any decisions taken by the DoT and affecting air cargo operators had to be discussed with the department by the individual airlines. “But now,” said Makunyane, “there is one body which does it for all.”