British Airways World Cargo (BAWC) has appointed Flightplan Airfreight Services (FAS) as its general sales agency, effective from April 1. Based at OR Tambo International Airport, FAS was established in January this year. Patrick Fehring, who is well known to the local market, having spent several years in South Africa as BA’s regional commercial manager, heads up the operation with a team whose joint experience totals 40 years. The agreement will see FAS providing sales support to BAWC through a dedicated reservation centre, where it will be responsible for telephone account bookings and sales, while acting as the first line of response for smaller freight forwarders to ensure an integrated system is available to all clients, irrespective of size. A team of experienced sales professionals based in Cape Town and Johannesburg, whose territories will also include Durban, Port Elizabeth and East London, will provide relationship and sales services to key client accounts. “We will be responsible for implementing a two pronged approach to drive product diversification, as well as driving increases in revenue,” said Fehring. FAS will report directly into Cayley Buyskes, area commercial manager for southern Africa who will continue to oversee the commercial provision across the region. All ground handling arrangements in Johannesburg and Cape Town will continue to operate through Swissport South Africa.
