The West African newcomer that started flying only last year, has chosen Aero Cargo, a subsidiary of Paris-based ECS Group, as general sales agent for their air freight business. This way, ECS strengthens its presence in the African market, with Royal Air Maroc belonging already to their mandate airlines.
Just in time for the launch of Air Cargo Africa, opening its doors tomorrow (19 Feb.) in Johannesburg, the ECS Group has landed a new scoop: the signing of a GSA contract with Air Senegal. The Dakar-headquartered carrier services a growing intra-African network, flying to Banjul (BJL), Ouagadougou (OUA), Conakry (CKY), Bamako (BKO) and some other destinations.
Two A330 NEOs
Of particular interest from GSA Aero Cargo’s point of view are their flights linking Dakar with Paris CDG since the beginning of this month, operated with an Airbus A330 NEO. The passenger
aircraft is capable of accommodating up to 16 tons of cargo per flight in their lower decks.
According to the carrier, the A330NEO is their ray of hope, demonstrated by Senegalese President Macky Sall who visited the plane maker’s plant in Toulouse, France to follow the assembly of the
first twin-aisle aircraft with a second scheduled to join the fleet in the course of this year.
Aiming at becoming a key player on routes linking West Africa and Europe
“Our (GSA) network and our in-depth understanding of and experience in the African market were major – if not decisive – factors for Air Senegal’s decision to choose as its GSA, stated CEO Adrien
Thominet of the ECS Group. Following the signing of the agreement, all ECS Group members are now able to sell Air Senegal cargo capacity, this way contributing to the carrier’s goal of achieving
strong growth in the international market.
Air Senegal, headed by CEO Philippe Bohn, aims to become “a key player on south-to-north and north-to-south routes. Meeting safety and security standards for transporting both goods and people is
central for everything we do,” stated Eric Iba Gueye, head of network and customer experience on the occasion of the partnership with Aero Cargo.
No standard service
By adding Air Senegal to its pool of mandate airlines, the ECS Group keeps expanding its reach. It consists of 138 offices in 48 countries spread across the globe. Last year, ECS and its
subsidiaries such as Nordic GSA, Globe Air Cargo, Aero Cargo, GEN-Air and others turned over US$1.3 billion. The Group offers their client’s Total Cargo Management, including yield optimization,
revenue management or data analysis. Their common slogan reads: “Unfortunately we don’t have a standard service. Because we don’t have a standard client.”
Heiner Siegmund
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