Shipper input welcomed on capacity needs, writes Ray Smuts
MONWABISE KALAWE, new general manager of Cape Town International Airport, is enough of a realist to recognise there is a lot more to business than passenger income - which explains the concerns he shares with the freight community at the shortage of airfreight space in and out of the city.
Affable Kalawe, 39, has only been in his new post for a month but makes it clear that establishing links with the freight community is a priority - and he has asked FTW to facilitate a get-together of concerned parties next month.
Freight is also good for our business in Cape Town and my understanding of airlines is as long as they can get load to destinations, whether it be passengers or freight, they will provide an aircraft to do just that.
The starting point for me will be to understand from the freight industry what sort of capacity they are looking at, and if these capacities justify adding aircraft of the right size I will certainly mediate between them and the airlines with which we have very good relations.
What has perhaps happened in the past is that the exact needs of shippers in Cape Town were not identified but I am prepared to assist wherever I can in removing those obstacles.
On the subject of investment in the Mother City, Kalawe is no apologist when he says that role resides with the Cape Chamber of Commerce and Industry rather than with ACSA, but he readily agrees that tourists could become potential investors in the Mother City.
Kalawe told FTW that ACSA had mapped a new strategy earlier this year, due to be made public soon, following restructuring under new chairman Mashudu Ramano after the resignations last year of former chairman Neil Chapman and managing director Dirk Ackerman.
Born and schooled in East London, Kalawe brings with him an MBA from the University of Cape Town and a B.Sc in electrical engineering from Natal University.
His predecessor Hennie Taljaard appointed him as maintenance and engineering manager at the airport in 1999 after which he was charged with running the smaller airports: Port Elizabeth, East London, Bloemfontein, Kimberley and Upington.
Married with two children, his wife Nosindiso is a final year medical student at the University of Cape Town.
Monwabise Kalawe... The starting point for me will be to understand from the freight industry what sort of capacity they are looking at
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