Ai rfreight volumes are skyrocketing as demand continues its upward trajec tor y.According to Gary Tobias, regional operations manager of Aero Africa sub-Saharan Africa, this has required companies to constantly evolve and deliver new products to the market.“We have just launched our latest blocked space agreement (BSA) schedule from China and Hong Kong which offers two consolidations per week from both Shanghai Pudong and Hong Kong International Airports,” Tobias told Freight News. This is in addition to the company’s premium consolidation products from Europe, the United Kingdom and India.He said the company had seen a spike in volumes over the past few months, with April showcasing a 200% increase in volume year-on-year. “May is looking to have a significant increase as well,” said Tobias, adding that there were opportunities in the airfreight sector despite the ongoing challenges such as capacity and rate f luctuations.“Our rates at present are extremely competitive,” he said. “Service in the airfreight sector is just as important and we are constantly working on making sure we meet our customers' needs at all times.”According to Tobias, the biggest challenge at present has been around fuel, the increase in cost and availability. “South Africa had already been hit by a shortage of fuel which reduced airline uplift capacity into and out of the country,” he said. “This placed even more pressure on the capacity constraints that were already being felt. The current shortage of fuel only exacerbates the situation. The fuel shortage has also seen airfreight rates increase in many parts of the world, and combined with inf lation and the rate of exchange f luctuations, it will put pressure on the South African economy.”Tobias, however, said he remained optimistic about the local opportunities for airfreight. “There is always opportunity in South Africa, despite the challenges we face daily. At Aero Africa we have dealt with a substantial portion of the freight sector and we know that our industry has well-established professionals who have a wealth of experience behind them to tackle these challenges head-on and come up with sustainable solutions.”
