CT market grows in stature for Compu-Clearing

ALAN PEAT THE BOOMING tourist industry in the Cape has indirectly promoted a great deal more airfreight cargo movement in and out of the province, according to Compu-Clearing MD, Arnold Garber. It’s a simple matter of aviation economics, he told FTW. “A lot of airlines like British Airways and Lufthansa have added extra flights to Cape Town in their schedules, and some are even flying direct to the city and missing out on Johannesburg. “With these planes being deployed to cover the tourism demand, the airlines find that the rent is paid – and it allows them to drop their cargo rates sufficiently to attract marginal cargoes into the air.” It is also satisfying the flight frequency needed for a “just in time” (JIT) cargo transport system to be used by Cape Town importers. “It allows for small consignments to be moved more often,” said Garber, “which is good for companies in the industry which want to keep their inventories at a low level.” Modern day communication has also allowed Compu-Clearing to handle its Cape Town business from its Johannesburg head office. “It used to be difficult to deal with the Cape on this basis,” said Garber, “but with communication the way it is today it enables Johannesburg companies to handle Cape Town business without needing representation on the spot.” The company now rates Cape Town as part of its prime market, with a full team in Johannesburg handling a large number of customers in the region. “Our Cape Town figures are doing very well,” said Garber, “and we expect this to continue.”