Lack of freighter capacity holds back expansion

JOY ORLEK
ONE OF the biggest operators into Africa globally, SDV is fast gaining profile in the South African market where overborder airfreight growth has doubled in two years, according to general manager Gilles Duffaut. “In South Africa airfreight is our biggest revenue earner and thanks to the growth in the SA economy and the level of the rand, our exports to Africa have grown significantly.” The company offers huge advantages for cross-border shipments, says airfreight manager Richard Serrano. “We have a network of offices in every African country with sophisticated track and trace facilities to match. “Our imports are mainly from Europe and exports largely into Africa. We’re currently at a 50/50 ratio which is a big turnaround – two years ago the mix was 70% imports to 30% exports.” The past year has been one of exceptional growth, says assistant airfreight manager Anthony Turner, who sees telecommunication equipment as one of the main drivers of this growth. “That’s where you get your bigger tonnages and bigger tonnages per consignment.” But capacity constraints are a major impediment. “There’s not enough freighter capacity, particularly in your main regions.” Uganda and Tanzania are stable markets, and yet the supply of aircraft has not kept pace with demand. “Nairobi and Angola are now beginning to develop, but aircraft capacity can’t keep up with demand. “Ironically it’s not the African and South African airlines that are filling the gap, but rather international airlines which often offer a better service on an indirect basis than local flights,” says Serrano. “We recently did a shipment with Air France where the transit time was excellent. A local carrier took three weeks to move the same consignment that Air France moved in three days.” Supporting the new airfreight growth, SDV opened an office in the foreign airlines section of OR Tambo International Airport in December. While imports are the current focus, the office will in time provide an export service as well.