Airfreight volumes more than double in a year

AIRLINK CARGO has become a significant player in the Zambian air cargo market, says Gerd von Mansberg of GSA The Cargo Connection. “Cargo volumes carried have more than doubled over the past 12 months,” Von Mansberg told FTW. The airline flies twice daily to Ndola using an RJ85 aircraft in the mornings with capacity for 1000kg and an ERJ aircraft in the afternoons with capacity for 500kg. “Over and above this, we fly twice daily to Lusaka with the ERJ equipment with weights of up to 500kg plus,” he said. Some 90% of the cargo carried is mining spares. And whereas Lusaka caters for Zambia, the Ndola flights also serve the Southern DRC weekly, including Kolwezi and the mines in close proximity. “The growth rate has been phenomenal,” said Von Mansberg, “which clearly shows that a regular scheduled service does create opportunities. “The future bodes well as the commodities mined in these areas remain in strong demand.”