Airfreight in focus as CT gets more direct services

The Western Cape’s air access,
programme has identified
airfreight as a strategic focus
for further growth.
An initiative of Airports
Company South Africa (Acsa),
Wesgro, the provincial and
local government as well as
several private companies, the
programme has, until now,
focused on passengers – but
cargo is now in the spotlight.
Austrian Airlines last
week announced the launch
of direct services to Cape
Town in October next year.
Lufthansa will increase its
direct Frankfurt frequencies
from three to five a week on
October 28, while Edelweiss
will fly between Zurich and
Cape Town from November
27.
According to Hermann
Zunker, Lufthansa Cargo
director Southern & Western
Africa, there is a great deal of
interest in the added capacity.
“We are in discussions with
several clients on the back of
these increased frequencies
and new routes," he told FTW.
Deon Cloete, general
manager of the Airports
Company South Africa, said
the focus had until now been
on filling the planes with
passengers. “Now we need to
look at the belly and there is
capacity,” he said.
With Cape Town
International Airport
currently being expanded
it was extremely timeous,
as it would allow them to
incorporate facilities if
necessary, he added.
Alan Winde, minister of
economic opportunities, said
while growing tourism was the
first thing that came to mind
when thinking of better air
connectivity, the potential for
trade was just as important.
“Connecting the Western
Cape with international
markets is essential for our
economic growth,” he said.
Speaking to FTW on the
sidelines of the Austrian
Airlines announcement in
Cape Town, Winde said
increased airfreight capacity
brought on by increased
direct flights also served the
province’s halal strategy.
“In the agri processing and
halal food sectors – both areas
that we have prioritised for
export growth – airfreight
capacity is crucial. It will be
a key enabler for us, taking
the fierce global competition
of these markets into
consideration.”