Good yields justify investment in facilities

EAS records exponential growth ALAN PEAT EXPRESS FREIGHT has become a critical revenue earner in the international aviation industry – with major investments required in developing facilities, but with good yields justifying them. According to Francois Wolmarans, MD of Express Air Services (EAS), this growth trend has also been evident in the local airfreight industry. A growing concern amongst domestic companies is that the premium payable for airfreight, exacerbated by significant fuel surcharge increases, is incentivising companies to consider road freight options. There has nonetheless been what he described as “a substantial increase” in this sector. EAS’s express freight volumes have increased exponentially over the past eight years. This has been due to both market share increases as well as market size increases, says Wolmarans. In all, the company – which is a 24-hour operation – handles 107 domestic flights daily. But it’s a business area that requires specialised expertise, and access to a streamlined domestic and regional distribution service if it is to succeed, Wolmarans added. For EAS, this has meant improving service delivery levels to a 99.75% success level – with the handout times critical for the express market. The company’s range of express options is based around this timecritical nature of the cargo, according to EAS domestic director Roy Solomons. “With our same day express service (SDX),” he said, “we guarantee that cargo will fly on the first available flight to its destination – and, with more than 100 flights a day, this is a proper express service.” The fleet freight (FFR) option, meantime, is designed for larger consignments sent during the day – ideal for the courier industry, with a guarantee that cargo will fly within three flights from time of hand-in, Solomons added. “But even our normal freight service (NFS) ensures that cargo is delivered as speedily as possible,” he said, “just without the guarantees. A key factor here is that hand-out times are never longer than 20-40 minutes, giving agents the speed advantage both in the air and on the ground.” Forming its air transport network, EAS has agreements with 10 domestic, regional and international airlines with a further two about to be signed up. An additional interline agreement is also in the final throes of completion. “We can also extend our clients’ cargo reach to and from Southern and Central Africa through extensive routes and schedules between SA, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Rwanda, Burundi Uganda and Kenya,” Wolmarans told FTW. “And EAS is expanding its network in Africa to meet the continent’s growing airfreight volumes and requirements.”