Airlink Cargo is set to launch a West Africa service to Libreville, Cotonou and Douala, adding another link to its growing network. The service – which will begin as soon as soon as aero-political issues have been finalised – will operate daily, using an Embraer 190 with one- to two-ton cargo capacity. It’s part and parcel of the airline’s philosophy of serving niche markets using smaller aircraft. And as its network expands, it has reinvented itself as a source to destination carrier – and has embarked on a concerted campaign to drive home the message that it offers a lot more than pointto-point short haul options.
“Instead of using Johannesburg as the hub for all cargo, we are encouraging customers to book with us from Pietermaritzburg to Ndola – or Windhoek to China – or any other destinations that the airline serves, either independently or through its interline agreements,” says Airlink Cargo executive manager, Alwyn Rautenbach.
The network concept not only offers the customer a streamlined service, it also saves a lot of money – particularly for courier companies, says Rautenbach. “If they need to retrieve a parcel and have to re-sort it and re-lodge they end up paying double – and it takes longer. But if they send it from source to final destination it may transit three sectors of Airlink’s flights but will still be there on the same day.” Rautenbach is expecting high demand for cargo on the West Africa service.
“There’s a lot of mining and oil exploration and a lot of meat imports,” says Rautenbach. At the moment the only option is flying to Accra or Lagos. There are no direct flights. “Routes into Mozambique are also picking up because of mining revitalisation – and a number of products from Mozambique, like live crabs and crayfish, are exported to the east. While cargo may be hubbed in Johannesburg, Airlink won’t charge double the rate. “For example we recently shipped a big consignment of tobacco from Harare to Antananarivo. Similarly a lot of electronic devices fly on SAA to Johannesburg but can be consigned directly to any destination on Airlink’s network – and it’s a one-stop shop for the shipper.”
According to Rautenbach, there has been a steady escalation of volumes since October last year. “And although volumes for January and February have been subdued, they were higher than last year.” At the end of last year, Airlink added St Helena to its route network, flying from Johannesburg via Windhoek – and according to Rautenbach the flights have been filled to capacity. “A new Embraer 190 will be deployed on the route in the near future.
“We’re moving everything from perishables to building materials,” says Rautenbach. “A particular success story has been the export of tuna from the island. In the past it moved by sea and had to be frozen. By air we can ship it fresh which fetches a higher price.”
Quote: We offer a lot more than point-to-point short-haul options. – Alwyn Rautenbach
