Courier service gains momentum

ED RICHARDSON AIR IS competing with road in the Eastern Cape with the Transit Group being appointed handling agent for Airlink Cargo International (ACI). “A year since the first shipment, there has been a tremendous amount of growth in the movement of cargo between Port Elizabeth and East London,” says Jacques Strydom, branch manager of the Transit Group in Port Elizabeth. Strydom believes the service is able to move cargo more cheaply and more speedily than road freight. “We see the service as a breakthrough for couriers and companies requiring urgent shipments. “It is also a lot safer to fly and there is less chance of cargo being damaged or hijacked than if it moves by road.” The Transit Group in East London is also reaping the benefits. “The freight that we get from South African Airways on the line flights takes 30 minutes to clear, a container from Johannesburg takes 25 minutes to clear from the time the aircraft lands, and our loose cargo from Cape Town, Durban, Bloemfontein and George takes 60 minutes, which is quicker than any other airline consolidator,” says Mike Boyce, branch manager at the Transit Group in East London. Clients receive text messages on their cellphones to inform them of delays so that they can avoid travelling long distances for cargo that has not yet arrived. In August this year the company moved premises to a new warehouse on the Airhart premises at the East London Airport. According to Boyce, this will allow for quick and easier access for airfreight and enable a 24-hour standby so that clients can be serviced throughout the day and night.