Plans to build an additional
cold storage facility at
Lusaka’s Kenneth Kaunda
International Airport have
taken off.
The warehouse is being built by
NAC 2000, which now handles
cargo in Lusaka for Kenya Airways,
Ethiopian Airlines, KLM Royal
Dutch Airlines and South African
Airways.
Kenya Airways operates a weekly
and South African Airways a thriceweekly
B737F cargo flight that has
good load factors “both incoming
and outgoing” ‘says the company’s
managing director Jonathan Lewis.
Significant increases in the
volumes handled by NAC2000
recently are attributed to the SAA
737 freighters carrying around
14 tons of cargo in, and 18 tons of
mainly perishable export cargo. That
is in addition to the cargo capacity
on the up to thrice daily SAA
passenger flights into the airport,
he says.
With exports of flowers, perishable
produce and fish growing, NAC2000
has started work on a
1 000 sqm cold storage facility,
which is due to be operational by the
end of August 2013.
It will be a modern multitemperature
facility “built to aviation
standards,” which is designed to
meet phytosanitary legislation both
in Zambia and export markets.
“This will provide further impetus
for the export of perishable cargo
from Zambia, and is proof of
NAC2000’s commitment to the
industry.
“We consulted with the farmers
when designing the facility to ensure
that it meets their needs,” he says.
Lewis is confident that the
demand for airfreight will continue
to increase as it is an essential
component in the government’s plans
to strengthen Lusaka’s position as an
inland logistics hub for the region.
There will always be a need to
transport freight by air,” he says.
Airfreight is also being driven by
additional capacity as new markets
open up to perishables exporters.
Airlines which have increased
frequencies into both Lusaka and
Ndola include Ethiopian Airlines,
SAA, Kenya Airways and KLM.
Kenya Airways is now flying direct
into Ndola where NAC2000 also has
facilities.
“This service is significant
because it means that importers
and exporters in Ndola now have a
northbound service and do not have
to go through OR Tambo or Lusaka.
This could definitely open up new
opportunities for exporters and
importers.”
Another possible game changer
will be the upgrading of Livingstone
airport to take wide-bodied aircraft
day and night. The tourism industry
is expected to be the first to take
advantage of direct flights out of
Europe, but freight is sure to follow,
he believes.
INSERT & CAPTION
Work has started on a
1 000-sqm cold storage
facility, which is due to be
operational by the end of
August 2013.
– Jonathan Lewis
