Exodus of foreign carriers opens the way for SA operators
IN ITS first six months of operation Pretoria-based Hydro Air has shown an average northbound payload of 92% with operations running smoothly, says Bruce van Wyk, sales and marketing director of Express Air Services (EAS), ground handling agents for the airlineÕs export sector.
EAS, which is also gsa for the airline, has moved mostly fish, flowers and automotive commodities, but unusual cargoes have included live sharks to Spain and various live birds.
ÒWe believe the main reasons for the high percentage payloads, even in the low season, are good handling processes and good trucking infrastructure in Europe,Ó says Van Wyk
But he warns that the single biggest threat to the airfreight industry at present is escalating costs.
ÒWe have seen tremendous increases in fuel and we are having to absorb this in our rating structure, but continued pressure will inevitably cause us to increase our rates. The exchange rates play havoc in the airline industry as the largest portion of flight costs are in US dollars.
ÒHaving said that, we believe that with the exodus of foreign carriers from southern African skies, new opportunities are emerging for South African operators to create much needed capacity for the ever-growing export and local distribution needs.Ó
EAS are also export handling agents of Israeli airline EL Al for which they act as gsa for non-IATA customers. With the airline having recently changed to larger aircraft on the South African service, this has enabled Van WykÕs operation to utilise more export cargo space.
On the home front EAS will open a Bloemfontein office shortly since Nationwide Airlines, which it represents, has included the Free State destination in its schedule.
ÒOur domestic network is also set to be bolstered as we are finalising an agreement with an airline to operate fair-sized aircraft on routes from Johannesburg to Richards Bay, Nelspruit, Bloemfontein and Kimberley. Details will be announced shortly,Ó says Van Wyk.
