Optimistic outlook for SA’s airfreight growth

South Africa will need some 170 new aircraft over the next 20 years to satisfy its demand for air travel, according to the latest Airbus Global Market Forecast. The country, which has experienced 27% growth in air traffic over the past ten years, will need both passenger and freighter capacity to help ease congestion and to accommodate growth on existing and new developing routes. According to Andrew Gordon, Airbus director market analysis, the cost of these aircraft is estimated in the region of US$23.3 billion. “Airbus anticipates that the South African region will average annual passenger and freight growth rates over the next 20 years,” said Gordon. He said following the drop in traffic during 2009 due to the global recession the aviation industry was in full recovery with world freight traffic up by 22% in December alone. “This is a very optimistic figure if one takes into account that in March 2009 the world freight traffic had dropped by more than 25%."