A change of focus by many airlines from carrying passengers to moving freight has seen Zambia strengthen its position as the regional airfreight hub, according to Jonathan Lewis, managing director of NAC2000.“Zambia is doing very well in terms of airfreight capacity. Every major airline that was f lying to Zambia pre-Covid has started operating f lights again – with the exception of SA A.”Since August 6, Qatar Airways has operated three direct f lights a week from Doha to Lusaka and then on to Harare using Boeing 787 aircraft.Each service has a total of 30 tons of cargo capacity, according to a Qatar Airways media release.NAC2000 is the cargo warehousing agent in Lusaka.In 2020 Kenya Airways started a dedicated freighter service from Johannesburg to Maputo, Harare, Lilongwe, Lusaka, and Dar es Salaam.The addition of the new Copperbelt International Airport outside Ndola to destinations for wide-bodied aircraft in the region should also provide a boost for airfreight to the Copperbelt and Democratic Republic of Congo, says Lewis, who reports growing export volumes by air, which provide a better balance for airlines providing freight services.Whereas previously the ratio had been roughly 20% exports and 80% imports, it had now moved to 40/60%, Lewis told Freight News.The main imports at present are Covid-related personal protective equipment (PPE), medical devices and vaccines.NAC2000 is using its existing facilities to handle vaccines for Covid-19, as well as vaccines for other diseases and animal use.The rollout of Covid-19 vaccines has not contributed to a major increase in volumes because the vaccines are so concentrated.According to the World Health Organization, a shipping pallet of the Moderna vaccine, for example, can carry around 192 cases of vaccine, with each case containing around 1 200 doses, giving a total of 230 400 doses per pallet. “The real volumes are in emergency-type cargo like PPE and test kits.“We expect to see more demand for more conventional cargo as the economy in Zambia and the region recovers,” says Lewis.Walvis Bay +264 64 201 2027Windhoek +264 61 267 613 sales@wfs.com.na www.wfs.com.naone-stop-shopcross-border logistics solutions We specialise in cross-border and project cargo solutions. This includes shipping, imports, customs clearance and transport of any type of cargo of any size to any destination. Experience a one-stop, hassle-free, cost-effective logistics solution!FN4594SDGrowing export volumes by air provide a better balance for airlines providing freight services.– Jonathan Lewis
