Failing inland infrastructure forces cargo to air

KEVIN MAYHEW
FAILING ROAD and rail infrastructures in countries over South Africa’s borders have forced companies offering turnkey freight solutions to include airfreight as an option for loads previously suited to land-based transport or seafreight.
Heavy delivery has taken on a different meaning with special charters carrying giant individual loads into areas such as Angola and Rwanda, according to Simon Lott of Air Care Cargo (ACC).
“In most cases airfreight necessity is driven by time restrictions. But there are cases where a long haul flight combined with a short haul road delivery is the only option,” he explains.
The ultimate example of this was the construction of a five
star hotel in Kigali, Rwanda in 2002. As it ran over
its construction schedule its developers resorted
to delivery of bulky items such as cement, tiling and other elements by air to meet the deadline for its opening. Up to 80% of construction material was delivered by air.
He believes ACC is ideally placed to offer solutions for its sister company, Spotco, which provides specialised logistics for time-sensitive freight when road and rail
cannot adequately meet demands.
Based at the Foreign Airline Cargo Terminal at Johannesburg International Airport, ACC offers all aspects of chartering and part charters. Its consolidation charter services operate to Angola, Kinshasa, Entebbe, Luxembourg, Hahn (Germany), Kigali, Nairobi, Mauritius, Luanda and
Dar es Salaam.