System specialist keeps growing airfreight market in its sights

THERE IS still healthy growth in the volume of airfreight moving through Cape Town International Airport, and new facilities being developed on an on-going basis to meet the growing demand, according to Arnold Garber, chairman of freight system specialists Compu-Clearing. “The Airports Company of SA (Acsa) has made a very serious commitment to the airport which is currently a permanent construction site as new premises are erected. “And it is a dual development, with Acsa expanding freight as well as its passenger facilities.” Although the soccer world cup in 2010 is a development deadline, the Western Cape is already in the throes of a tourist boom. According to Garber, this growth in tourism has indirectly promoted a great deal more airfreight cargo movement in and out of the province. “In recent times, a lot of major airlines like British Airways and Lufthansa have added extra flights to Cape Town in their schedules - some even flying direct to the city and missing out on Johannesburg” he said. “The growing tourist numbers mean that most of these flights are full, and this pays the rent for the planes being deployed. “This has allowed the airlines to drop their cargo rates sufficiently to attract marginal cargoes into the air.” The flight frequency also allows Cape Town importers to target a “just in time” (JIT) cargo transport system – allowing small consignments to be moved more often, and letting companies keep stock inventories at a low level. Even the airport being located at sea level gives it an economic advantage over OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, Garber told FTW. “The high altitude of Ortia,” he said, “is a problem for aircraft, which are unable to take off with a full load – which they can do from Cape Town. As an example of this restricted capacity at altitude, Garber cited a Boeing 747. “Flying out of Johannesburg, this type of aircraft is limited to a take-off capacity of 80-90 tonnes,” he said. “But out of Cape Town the plane could carry 100-110 tonnes.” All of it adds up to Cape Town being rated as part of Compu- Clearing’s prime market, with a full team in Johannesburg handling a large number of customers in the region.