... as airfreight capacity dwindles
DIMINISHING IMPORT volumes are decimating airfreight capacity from Europe.
While northbound cargo space is booked to capacity on most flights with exporters aiming at valuable dollar earnings, the falling rand has discouraged imports.
Dwindling passenger bookings have been cited in many instances as the reason behind airlines either withdrawing from the South African route or reducing flights, but most are satisfied that if there were a more equitable balance between incoming and outgoing cargo figures, these would have a more stabilising effect on decision making.
Sabena, Austrian Airlines and Alitalia have now departed the scene, and TAP Portuguese Airlines has rerouted its flights to Maputo with Johannesburg an ongoing destination. In each case available cargo capacity for northbound exports has been reduced.
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines is now planning to switch its daily flights from combis to all-passenger aircraft in order to accommodate more passengers.
Seats are heavily booked in both directions. Staff here can't even get a seat on one of our own aircraft, one KLM cargo employee told Airfreight Express. The lack of southbound cargo has encouraged the airline to make the change from April 1 this year. The extra 250 seats per flight will help bolster declining profit margins, says KLM's southern African general manager Anita Gustafson.
Two additional frequencies have however been approved by the South African aviation authorities and the airline is considering deploying combis should it decide to take them up during the next few months.
We are holding thumbs out here at the cargo centre, because we need the space northbound, said the employee.
At present all three airlines serving the UK directly - SAA, BA and Virgin Atlantic - report full loads. Direct European centres are now served only by Air France, Lufthansa, Iberia and Swissair. Cargo transhipments can also be made through two other European destinations served by Olympic Airways and Turkish Airline flights.
Copyright Now Media (Pty) Ltd
No article may be reproduced without the written permission of the editor
To respond to this article send your email to joyo@nowmedia.co.za
