Airfreight capacity on certain routes remains under pressure – particularly for large ad-hoc shipments, according to Paul Lawrence, managing director of Tigers South Africa.
“With the national carrier, South African Airways (SAA), having reduced many of its flights, an already existing capacity problem has been exacerbated,” said Lawrence.
He told FTW that the capacity issue on the Africa-Asia routes had been addressed as increased trade between the two continents had seen additional flights being offered last year.
“Tigers has a strong footprint in China so this has been a natural progression of growth for us,” said Lawrence.
Having opened a new office in Europe, there were expectations of additional cargo out of that region, he added. And while Tigers South Africa has focused strongly on the air transport of pharmaceutical goods – with its own temperature-controlled facility at its logistics centre in Johannesburg – it is now diversifying into different commodities.
“We are also exploring new trade lanes and cross-trade opportunities,” said Lawrence. He added that Tigers’ global operating system had helped to serve its customers more efficiently.
“We handle all transactions via this system, starting from initial estimate, to client tariff input, to final invoice, to customer and cost allocations, all globally visible and in one location,” he said.
INSERT
We are exploring new trade lanes and cross-trade opportunities. – Paul Lawrence
