Industry must focus on training

Training and education in the charter industry should be addressed as a matter of urgency, says Bryn Woolley, managing director of Airline Cargo Resources. According to Woolley a good knowledge of the cargo industry and aircraft available is crucial for anyone entering the industry; however, much still has to be done to increase the level of skills in the profession. “One needs to know the limitations of the various aircraft so one can quote the correct aircraft type as this affects the price. It is no good quoting on an aircraft that is not suitable for the job,” he told FTW. Offering insight into the challenges in the industry, Woolley says, currently there are various freighter operators to Johannesburg, creating a very competitive market for charters. “The pricing has dropped significantly and freight forwarders know they can shop for cheaper options, although cheap is not always the right way to go when considering a charter. “The number of freighters flying to Johannesburg has more than doubled in recent years thus creating a saturated market and there is more capacity available than cargo. The logistics side of things we leave up to the freight forwarder and airlines. We marry the two to create a seamless flow.”