The outlook for airfreight for the second half of the year is positive, with a number of disruptions in the sea freight sector continuing to drive cargo to the skies.According to Jacob Pretorius, general manager airfreight at SACO CFR, the decision by carriers to significantly increase ocean freight rates has also benefited the airfreight sector.“It has brought airfreight into the picture again on even larger shipments,” he said. "Importers are currently overstocked, and consumers in South Africa are not spending money, leading to smaller shipments being used to maintain stock levels as needed. This situation has also brought benefits to the airfreight sector and made it a viable option. We believe that the traditional peak period will return this year between October and mid-December."Pretorius noted that airfreight was often not the first choice of transport mode due to its cost. "However, this year we have seen a change in that trend. Customers opt for airfreight because they cannot afford delays, and with only smaller consignments moving, the cost difference is minimal when considering the time saved."He told Freight News the outlook for the rest of the year was positive. "I have recently returned from an international annual general meeting with our partners, and this sentiment was widely shared. With this in mind, we will continue to push for new products and maintain the value of our current offerings for our customers. We welcome any conversation to form partnerships and explore where we can a s si s t ."He added that plans were under way for new export products, with some of the company's partners experiencing significant success by promoting specific trade lanes.However, the airfreight sector has challenges. "Certain airlines have completely changed their pricing models, adopting dynamic rate systems. They are moving away from contract rates, instead calculating rates for each specific f light to ensure profitability. This becomes problematic when you request a rate; a few days later, someone else can get a different rate, depending on the f light's capacity," he explained. The South African economy remains a significant concern for businesses. "People do not have money to spend; they can barely afford necessities. After the elections, we hope to see a change in government operations and a drop in the interest rate," said Pretorius. "This would provide people with breathing room and hopefully enable them to spend on luxury items again.”
