'Consolidate, diversify or die' GENERAL SALES agents in this country's airfreight industry will have to get closer together if they are to survive, and even then will have to diversify to help bring in the revenue, says The Cargo Connection's managing director Gerd von Mansberg. "It's simply a case of adapt or die for all of us, and adaptation covers more than merely getting together or merging forces," he says. "There are only about five of us who are of any consequence and we should now be talking and thinking rationalisation if we are not to perish. "There are a diminishing number of international airlines with which we can work. Airlines are pulling out of service to the country and no newcomers are on the horizon. In addition the bigger ones do their own thing and have their own cargo sales staff. Frankly there is little or no potential right now for growth. Consolidation of our resources is the only answer and we will all have to sit around the table pretty soon and sort it all out." By diversification, Von Mansberg refers to his own company which has branched out into the field of aircraft cleaning. There are two established operators at the airport but he has seen the opening to launch a new company, Plain Hygiene, which is undertaking the cleaning of aircraft in both passenger and cargo sections after arrival in this country. "We have another project in mind right now which is taking shape and which will be up and flying, so to speak, in the very near future. "That is to have small aircraft doing localised runs, such as grouping towns like Middelburg, Witbank and Secunda, or Rustenburg, Klerksdorp and Potchefstroom, where there are small airfields available and where localised business has needs for light load conveyance by air. "This is particularly the case in the area of valuable cargoes, such as cellphones, prepaid cards, jewellery and even bank requirements. Rapid deliveries can be combined with the safety of being airborne as opposed to ground operations, where hi-jacking is prevalent. The aircraft, of course, will be unmarked and will certainly not display the type of service they are operating."
