Weekly freighter links SA with West Africa

The African-registered air freighter specialist, Avient, has continued its expansion into West Africa and now has 17 scheduled destinations in the region, according to commercial director, Samantha Smith. From its European hub in Liege, the company’s owned fleet of aircraft flies into a number of cargo points – including Bamako, Lagos, Ouagadougou, Pointe Noire and Port Harcourt – carrying a wide range of freight, from oil and gas equipment to time-sensitive cargo and perishables. In addition new routes have recently been opened into Conakry, Dakar, Freetown and Monrovia. “With effect from last Friday (September 9),” Smith told FTW, “Avient has linked SA with Nigeria/Mali and Burkina Faso – with a direct freighter service on the route. “This means that the mining and other industries have a weekly dedicated freighter to move cargo into West Africa. The majority of freight is currently shipped to Europe and then back to West Africa. Avient’s new service ensures cargo reaches its enddestination directly.” Avient will operate either an 85-tonne capacity MD11 or a 60-t DC10 airplane. There will be scheduled flights every Thursday from Johannesburg to Lagos- Bamako-Ouagadougou, and on to Liege in Belgium. This service will be managed from the Leisure Cargo SA offices in Johannesburg and Cape Town – with contact people Fred du Plessis and Wilnell Strydom. “With the services of freighter operators like Avient,” Smith added, “African exporters have the opportunity to grow – utilising the direct services to Europe. For example the airline currently moves weekly loads of perishables from various points in Africa into Liege for onward distribution within Europe.” Avient hopes to satisfy multiple market demands and ensure that Africa and her markets play a prominent role in the recovering world market. The company already offers significant freight services linking the African continent with China, India, the Middle East and Latin America – and intends to continue to develop the range and scope of services it provides. In addition, it offers an experienced charter department that flies a wide range of cargo for a varied customer base, both in and out of Africa and across the globe.