Africa Remains a Big Challenge for Cargo and Logistics

Air Cargo Africa was a lot of déjà vu. Panelist were referring to the “enormous potential” the continent offers, namely due to its fast growing and very young population, the upswing of e-commerce and the fast spreading consumer market.
The flip side of the coin is, however, growing poverty in large parts of Africa, particularly the Sahel belt with hundreds of thousands threatened with starvation, insufficient infrastructure, ongoing corruption and a 1999 signed Yamoussoukro Declaration for realizing a single African sky that is still pending completion. Africa is home to about 13 percent of the world’s population but the continent accounts for less than 2 percent of the global air service market.

National egoism prevails
A major reason for Africa’s underserved status is that a block of countries that have signed the Yamoussoukro Decision declined implementing it. Instead, they restrict their air service markets to protect the share held by their state-owned carriers. Simultaneously, they opened up their skies to Middle East and other non-African airlines that are more efficient in both passenger and freight transport.
Consequently, intercontinental African routes are mostly served by foreign operators, hindering the development of an intra-African air network to the detriment of the entire continent. On the occasion, TIACA Chief Vladimir Zubkov strongly urged all Yamoussoukro signatory states to ratify and implement the declaration, giving liberalized air transport within Africa a much-needed push.

Pitiful infrastructure
The state of the African infrastructure was another hot topic standing on the trade show’s agenda. A significant change for the better? Delegates didn’t table much encouraging news during Air Cargo Africa. This despite the fact that modern and efficient infrastructure is key for economic upswing, income and jobs.
One participant from Tanzania pointed out that up to 40 percent of fruits or vegetables harvested are ruined before being loaded aboard a plane. Poor roads, long transport routes, insufficient warehouse conditions and unskilled personnel are the common factors leading to the waste of many goods. Bureaucratic and inadequate customs practices in many African states in combination with corrupt officials complement this sorrowful list.  
Any new findings by Air Cargo Africa? Not really.

Promising projects
On the positive side, there are some flagship projects that should improve the situation in logistics and cargo, at least on a local level. Among them is Swissport’s new state-of-the-art cargo terminal at Accra‘s Kotoka International Airport, comprising 10,000 square meters to cater for temperature sensitive products. At Addis Ababa’s Bole International the infrastructure is upgraded by Ethiopian Cargo’s new freight terminal that will be operational in April, offering 1.2 million tons of annual throughput capacity. Finally, at Johannesburg’s OR Tambo International warehouse capacity will be expanded soon despite a 10 percent drop back in cargo 2016, totaling 350,500 tons. “This way we can take maximum advantage of the next upswing in cargo and prevent congestions,” stated the airport’s general manager Bongiwe Pityi. She concluded her presentation by stating: “Nobody likes a white elephant, but it would be most inconvenient if the infrastructure is not there when it’s really needed.”

Heiner Siegmund

Qatar Airways Cargo received the ‘Global Cargo Airline of the Year’ award representing a significant recognition of the Doha-based carrier’s success in the air freight industry. The cargo carrier was nominated and voted the ‘Global Cargo Airline of the Year’ award by STAT Times readers via online voting prior to the awards announcement. Qatar Airways Cargo made the cut with the highest STAT Times reader votes among the top five nominees in this award category.
Commenting on the achievement, Chief Officer Cargo, Ulrich Ogiermann stated: “The ‘Three Rs’ approach - which stands for rates, reliability and relationship - is at the very heart of our business. We are grateful and thankful to our customers who place their trust in our brand and services. Having started off with three freighters in 2003, we have come a long way to reach the number three position on IATA’s international FTK (freight tonne kilometers) ranking today. This award goes out to each and every employee at Qatar Airways Cargo, who strives to ensure we live up to our ‘customer first and service excellence’ motto.”

Cargolux Airlines was honored with The STAT Times’ accolade for Excellence in Air Cargo in the category ‘International All Cargo Carrier of the Year in Africa’ at the Air Cargo Africa 2017 conference. ‘We are proud to be honoured and appreciate the recognition that our customer dedication in Africa receives,” stated Jonathan Clark, Cargolux Regional Director Africa. He went on to say: “Africa remains an important market for Cargolux and we are happy to be able to support the continent’s trade lanes to Europe, the United States and Asia as well as across the Cargolux network worldwide.”
The carrier’s African network has a long-standing history and the company enjoys the continued loyalty and support of forwarders and shippers in this market, reads a CV release. The freight airline is a proven expert in a range of diverse shipments, from perishables, fruit and flowers to heavy machinery for the oil and gas industry on the continent.

Last but not least, STAT Times handed over Frankfurt Airport operator Fraport the ‘International Award for Excellence in Air Cargo’ in the category ‘highly acclaimed’. Last year, Frankfurt was voted the best international freight airport in the framework of "Air Cargo India." "We are permanently striving to provide our customers with more efficient processes and new solutions. The current award is therefore a new confirmation of the quality of our air freight services,” said Anke Giesen, Executive Board Member Operations at Fraport AG, at the festive reception of the award in South Africa.