MTN snaps up capacity as fifth DAS freighter is launched

DAS AIR Cargo launched its fifth DC10 freighter from Johannesburg last month with a full load of MTN cell phone materials for Nigeria . The aircraft, which has recently been converted to a full freighter, had been in South Africa being prepared for its new livery by Mega Coatings, the only privately owned company in Africa that can undertake the size of the assignment. It was the 42nd full DC10 freighter that has operated for MTN to Nigeria during the past year and was part of a total of 14 000 tons of cargo forwarded by the airline for MTN to Uganda, Rwanda and Nigeria since 1998 when the first operation commenced. The 14 000 tons moved to date is equivalent to 215 full DC10 freighters. Gary Murphy, managing director of Fast International, which has been responsible over this period for the logistics associated with the MTN account, was on hand to witness the event with Ted Mayne, chief executive and Max Mariotti, managing director of Aviation GSA International, the DAS Air Cargo GSA in South Africa. Aviation GSA has represented the airline in this country since 1997. Cargo volumes during this period have increased from an average of 145T/month to more than 390T/month, making it the largest cargo airline into Africa. This additional aircraft has been specifically purchased to ensure that the schedules are maintained, and to further develop the charter market, which is becoming a crucial aspect of the freight industry in Africa, says Mayne. As South Africa has assumed a key role in supplying the rest of Africa with manufactured products, the demand for purely freighter operations has expanded dramatically.