Three hubs supply comprehensive African route network

WITH ESTABLISHED hubs in Nairobi, Entebbe and Accra, Intraspeed has created a comprehensive route network that spans East and West Africa, says sales and marketing director Claire Clark. “We offer weekly flights to Entebbe, our biggest hub,” says Clark, “and from there cargo is distributed to various mines throughout the region.” Using Accra as its hub for West Africa, Intraspeed has entered into joint ventures with a range of air charter operators and hauliers for the movement of cargo to final destinations in Niger, Burkina Faso, Gabon, Cameroon, Ivory Coast and Sierra Leone. “Current monthly volumes are in excess of 20 tons a week of airfreight into Accra and 150 TEUs by sea to Tema and Lagos,” says Clark. Shopping centres, restaurants and hotels in Accra have all brought in new business. “We also recently moved more than 400 tons of ballot papers for the Nigerian elections held on April 14 and 21. This demands careful advance preparation with regard to pre-shipment inspection, import licences and letters of credit,” she told FTW. Intraspeed moves a variety of cargo by air, road and sea, ranging from mining, communication, construction and hotel equipment to ice cream, meat and fresh fruit and vegetables. “We have strong working relationships with our clients and are often asked to procure certain products such us delicacies for the hotels throughout Africa and the Indian Ocean Islands. For exploration companies we ship entire site setup equipment including mining equipment as well as tents, beds, gas refrigerators and computers,” says Clark. “Through our global network, we consolidate cargo from Europe, Africa and Australia into each African hub.” The company, which has been operating in South Africa for the past seven years and in East and Central Africa for more than 20, has branches in Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ghana, and Zambia. In South Africa it has offices in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban with a national staff of 75.