Limited warehousing capacity raises concerns at JIA

KEVIN MAYHEW JOHANNESBURG INTERNATIONAL Airport (JIA) remains a key entry and exit point in Africa for the import and export of cargo but, with a growing number of airlines establishing routes into South Africa, limited warehousing capacity to handle any increase in volumes is becoming a serious area of concern, says Neil Harris, marketing and sales director of Express Air Services (EAS). This has prompted the company not only to look for additional warehouse space to meet anticipated growth going forward, but also to gear up for the expected implementation by South African Revenue Service (SARS) of a manifest acquittal system as well as electronic releases, says EAS’s international director based in Johannesburg, Basson Piek. “The South African airfreight industry will be challenged further by the proposed introduction of Part 108 of the Civil Aviation Regulations (Express Air Services is already compliant), which places great emphasis on improved security of cargo, throughout the logistical pipeline, for airlines,” he said. “The increase in traffic at JIA could lead to greater use of airports such as Lanseria in Johannesburg in future, to take some of the load off JIA. Express Air has an established presence at Lanseria already and believes that it is well positioned for an increase in traffic at this airport.”