SAA upbeat about air cargo growth

The air cargo terminal at the
new King Shaka International
Airport in KwaZulu Natal was
opened with much fanfare in May,
with promises of state-of-the-art
equipment adding a new dimension
to the service offering for airfreight
customers.
But the reality was far from
perfect with input from shippers and
freight agents pointing to a fairly
challenging start, with significant
delays the order of the day.
For airlines, chief among them
the national carrier, the facility has
structural and operational challenges
– so far.
But SAA Cargo is working within
the current constraints to find the
best possible solutions for its clients.
“The warehouse was designed
to handle smaller parcels,” says
SAA’s Durban cargo terminal
manager, Lennox Kotsedi. “And it
was built without input from the
airlines that will be using it which is
unfortunate. But we are doing all we
can to maintain the high standard of
service to which our customers are
accustomed,” Kotsedi told FTW.
One of the major problem areas is
space, he added.
SAA Cargo has effectively moved
from a 5 000m² warehouse at the old
Durban Airport which it owned into a
facility the same size which is shared
with the leasing company Worldwide
Flight Services – tasked with the
handling of all international cargo
– and two other competitors, which
is fairly restrictive. However, even
though it is smaller it has racking
capacity of up to eight metres high.
“The new facility also poses a
challenge in terms of easy access
for our customers,” says Khotsedi,
which has resulted in delays – with
additional problems at the start
caused by a malfunction of the ETV
to locate shipments.
There is however light at the end
of the tunnel, says Kotsedi, who is
positive that with co-operation from
WFS and Acsa, the problems can
be solved.
“We have a lot of key customers
moving into the agents’ facility
which will be completed in the next
month or so.”
And he’s upbeat about the
potential to grow airfreight volumes.
It’s all about catering for the
unique needs of customers rather
than providing a one size fits
all option.
“SAA Cargo offers affordable
products such as general cargo,
same-day Express and Starlight
Express. We also cater for
perishables, dangerous goods,
live animals, human remains and
vulnerables. We look forward to
handling valuable cargo again once
an airlock facility has been built by
Dube Trade Port.”
A number of new options are on
the drawing boards as the airline
strategises for the future – details
of which will be revealed as they
are finalised.