Scarce airfreight capacity battles to serve African export growth

Leonard Neill DESPITE RAPID trade growth with southern Africa, airfreight export capacity is alarmingly small. Nairobi and Entebbe are the only two airports in Africa served by scheduled flights from Johannesburg on which airfreight can be booked without having to wait for available space. Nairobi is served daily by both SAA and Kenya Airways and three times a week by Africa Aviation. Capacity is therefore available and reliability is good. SAA calls at Entebbe three times a week and both Das Air and MK Airlines twice a week. There is always capacity available. For the rest the situation can be something of a nightmare for forwarders and general sales agents. Worst off are the two emerging countries of Angola and DRC. While business in Luanda, Angola is booming, TAAG and SAA each offer services three times a week. But capacity on both is very scarce with demand far exceeding supply. Congo Airline serves Kinshasa in DRC, but the cargo flight requires a minimum of 30 tons before take-off, and operation of the freighter is subject to cargo availability. With trade on the increase between South Africa and Nigeria, Lagos is one of the worst served cargo-wise from JIA. Both SAA and Hydro Air fly there three times a week, but cargo space is normally fully booked, with demand exceeding supply. Advance booking is essential. Addis Ababa has one of the most modern airports on the continent, but with Ethiopian Airlines (three a week) and SAA (two a week) the only services from South Africa, bookings must be made well in advance, at least with a fortnight’s notice. Cargo reservations for Lusaka are made on an ad hoc basis, although SAA and BA/Comair fly daily and MK Airlines twice a week. Libreville (Gabon) is another growing destination, but the national airline flies out of JIA once a week with a cargo capacity of 25 tons which is always fully booked. Space will be secured, however, if booking is made at least one week in advance.