Dube airport will generate new volumes of cargo

Although it will initially share the private sector section of the Dube Tradeport cargo terminal at the new King Shaka Airport in KwaZulu Natal with only two other airline cargo operators, Airlink Cargo is viewing this space as an investment for future growth, according to MD Alwyn Rautenbach. “We have booked space,” he told FTW. “But the initial capacity of the terminal (100 000-tonnes) will be too much for the amount of cargo that will be going through – even for express air cargo. “So we will probably share it with Express Air Services (EAS) – which, along with SAA and ourselves, makes up the three lessees in this section of the terminal.” Rautenbach expected a relatively slow start to the growth in cargo at the airport, with only a limited declared interest from international airlines as yet. “However,” he said, “Emirates is starting to operate a service to the present international airport in Durban in October, so there will be some cargo to begin with.” But Rautenbach is confident that the new airport, and its ability to accommodate the largest of wide-body aircraft (which the old airport can’t handle), will generate new volumes of air cargo in the province. “The terminal caters for much more than people currently need,” he said, “but they can have expectations for the future.” He noted that there was already noticeable industrial development in the likes of warehouse facilities on the way up north from Durban to this La Mercy area where the airport is located, and this in itself has promise for future movement of goods to and from the terminal. “It’s difficult to accurately predict what will happen,” Rautenbach added, “but we certainly hope to grow our market there. “It will also benefit from being a brand-new, added transport service for Durban – a city which is currently dominated by the sea and road modes.”