Preparations for 'silly season' begin now

JOY ORLEK WITH THE so-called ‘silly season’ just months away, preparations for the expected cargo deluge are under way. “In July/August we start planning,” Transit Group managing member Tim Snell told FTW. “It’s a good time to let our clients know about available capacity. The introduction by South African Airways of its shorthaul freighter – scheduled for August – will offer significant additional capacity at a time when space is at a premium.” Specialists in domestic and international consolidations, Transit is SAA’s second biggest client after the post office, says Snell. Also to be factored into future planning – and of particular relevance to night-time freighters – are planned runway extensions in Port Elizabeth and Gauteng. “For the last nine months extensions to the Cape Town runway allowed night flights a very narrow window, from 02:00 to around 3:30, said Snell. Hopefully there will be better preplanning and advance warning from Airports Company SA when the Gauteng extensions get under way.”