‘Phenomenal’ growth in airfreight for EAS

There has been “phenomenal” growth in Express Air Services, Zimbabwe outbound tonnages this year compared to the same period last year, according to Zimbabwe branch manager Simone Rackham. The company – part of the Bidvest group – handles the cargo sales for a number of airlines operating into Zimbabwe, including BA/Comair, Air Malawi, Astral Aviation, Zambezi Airlines, FlyKumba and Qatar Airways operating out of Harare, Bulawayo and Victoria Falls. It’s speed and reliability that keeps airfreight flying high, and this is particularly crucial for timesensitive products like vital mining spares, where operations have to be kept running, perishables, pharmaceuticals and stone carvings destined for exhibitions. There are between five and seven flights a day linking Zimbabwe to South Africa, she says. Airfreight out of Zimbabwe is flown first into the EAS hub in Gauteng, and then on to the rest of the world. Exports at present consist mainly of cut flowers, stone carvings, curios, domestic animals, tobacco products, vegetables and personal effects, she says.