Port congestion pushes up charter business

Intraspeed records significant growth jOY ORLEK SPECIALIST LOGISTICS operator Intraspeed has recorded significant growth in the overborder air charter market with a variety of factors pushing up demand. “There’s a shortage of scheduled capacity and the markets are growing. Add to that severe congestion in Mombasa and a critical shortage of trailers, rail wagons and trucks causing delays of up to two months, and airfreight becomes the only alternative,” says director Jade da Costa. The company brokers aircraft on behalf of exporters to East and Central Africa as well as the Indian Ocean Islands and has established hubs in Entebbe and Nairobi. It is currently involved in a project to the Seychelles for two hotels that are being rebuilt as a result of the devastating tsunamis. One of the problems, says Da Costa, is the royalties that need to be paid. Because many of the bilaterals are outdated, unscheduled freighter operators are required to pay royalties to the respective national airlines. The Department of Transport is believed to be addressing the issue which is regarded as one of the factors seriously hampering industry growth.