Nationwide looks to European
destinations
NATIONWIDE AIRLINES is now moving in two new directions. East London and Lusaka have entered its schedule listings, and GSA Express Air Services marketing director Bruce van Wyk is confident that additional cargo space will be scooped up.
The Johannesburg-East London sector was started by the airline on March 21, flying a Boeing 737, but the route was launched as a cargo operation only on Wednesday this week.
"There's always been a big demand for airfreight capacity between these two cities, with little on offer in the past," he says. "Now we can look at two tons a flight with a daily and two flights each on Wednesday and Thursday. The consignments are there and we will be snapping them up. We have opened an office in East London where business is really on the upward trend."
Lusaka
Nationwide Airlines Zambia took off on its inaugural flight from Lusaka to Johannesburg last month, with four weekly return flights scheduled on the route.
The carrier is the third to operate in the Zambian market and does so as a franchise of Nationwide Airlines in South Africa. Initially a Boeing 737-200 advanced aircraft is being leased from the South African company, but there are plans for additional aircraft to be acquired in the near future. These will be based in Lusaka and will service additional regional routes planned by the Zambian sector.
Here Express Air Services (EAS) has entered into a joint venture with Zambia Growers Association, which will handle the GSA requirements for the southbound voyage, already at one ton per flight.
"We look at an average of 1,7ton on the northbound journey, and are currently achieving that with business growing," says Van Wyk.
Nationwide Airlines has strategic alliances with Virgin Atlantic, KLM, Kenya Airways, Air Tanzania and Air Botswana, delivering into the domestic South African market.
In another venture, Nationwide has submitted a proposal to the Air Services Licensing Council to provide a long-haul service three times a week to European destinations. If the proposal is approved, full details will be unveiled shortly.
