New airport improves efficiencies

Turners Shipping has seen significant growth in airfreight volumes following the relocation of its airfreight department to the Trade Zone at King Shaka International Airport. The office and on-site warehouse opened at the beginning of October last year and is situated in the heart of the Dube Trade Port, part of the new airport development. The Trade Port was established to serve as a catalyst for economic growth in KwaZulu-Natal by streamlining airfreight operations and offering an alternate route for KwaZulu- Natal freight that is currently going to Gauteng’s OR Tambo International Airport. Turner Group managing director, Conrad Cochrane- Murray, said there were several reasons for relocating. “We wanted to support the efforts made by the province to strengthen the industry, and while the new facilities benefit existing clients, they also enable us to target new business in the textile and clothing industry.” With the new office situated across the road from the airport’s cargo terminal, operations are now more efficient, according to airfreight manager Treven Govender. “The freight handlers, Customs and South African Police Service offices are all in the one building with the port health officials close by. If there is a query or problem we can go directly to the office and resolve it faceto- face.” Operations will be even more efficient when the stateof- the-art overhead conveyor linking the cargo terminal and the Trade Port comes into service in March, he added. It has been designed to deliver freight items directly to the warehouses in the Trade Port. “This is going to speed things up,” says Govender. “We will no longer have to send vehicles to collect the freight.”