The airline industry has grown significantly in recent years, with both current airlines and new entrants expanding their operations and offering more routes. One area that is expected to grow in the coming years is airfreight trade in Europe. With more and more consumers turning to online shopping, there is likely to be an increase in demand for airfreight services to transport goods quickly and efficiently. This presented a great opportunity for the airline industry to capitalise on the growth of e-commerce and expand their operations, said Dane Yelverton, coastal operations manager for Aero Africa.“Airfreight services are essential for the efficient transport of goods across borders and between continents. With the growth of emerging markets in Africa, increased trade volumes and trade patterns are likely in the years to come,” he said.According to Yelverton, the European Union (EU) consolidation service is not only Aero Africa’s most established consol service, but also the largest. “We currently offer one main deck mid-week and one weekend consolidation from Amsterdam to Johannesburg on a block space agreement. We can assist from anywhere in mainland Europe with services from 17 countries in the EU, including Eastern Europe. The rates are extremely competitive and spot rates are given for large, dense shipments.” Yelverton said focusing on inbound shipments, the company had seen volumes increase by around 5% overall during the first quarter of the year compared to the same time last year. “We are very bullish in our outlook for Europe, even though it is a region that is under pressure. For the foreseeable future, it will be tough for Europe considering the current war and political tensions, but we believe there are strong bilateral agreements and partnerships in place that will allow us to continue growing our products and developing this routing.”He said to date there had been a slight impact on trade from Eastern European countries, but for the rest of Europe it was moving like clockwork.“One particular challenge facing the market is keeping the pricing competitive when the airlines seem to be reducing their rates. We are fortunate to have a great team, good partnerships and relationships with the airlines.”
