AFRICA's air cargo market is setting its sights on long-term growth, but continues to suffer from the strength of the US dollar and inflation on export markets, reports London's Air Cargo News.
Summarising the last few years, Kenya Airways cargo director Dick Murianki says that there was a big demand for air cargo in Africa at outbreak of Covid pandemic because of the demand for medical supplies.
To meet the demand, Kenya Airways switched two of its B787-9s to a preighter configuration with passenger seats removed, while it also operates two B737-300Fs.
Mr Murianki says that an overspill of demand that could not be met at the height of the pandemic has now subsided and the global economic conditions are taking their toll on demand.
Ethiopian Cargo chief Abel Alemu said the market has slowed. 'For obvious reasons, the last two years were very high for demand but starting from around July or late June last year we have started some kind of a dip,' he said.
Looking at the Ethiopian market, Mr Alemu says that there has been 'a little bit of a shortage on the import side' but adds that 'exports have been very stable'.
One positive development for the continent is the african Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA). AfCFTA is the world's largest free trade area bringing together the 55 countries of the African Union and eight Regional Economic Communities.
The overall mandate of the AfCFTA is to create a single continental market with a combined GDP of US$3.4 trillion. It aims to eliminate trade barriers and boost intra-Africa trade.
However, for the agreement to be a success, it is essential that air cargo policy at a country level is enhanced to ease the movement of goods between countries.
During the Air Cargo Africa conference and exhibition, Kenya Airways CEO Allan Kilavuka said: 'The AfCTA is fantastic, but it will not work if we don't grow the air traffic and the aviation business in Africa.
'If the policy formulation is not in tandem with the intention of the free trade agreement it will not work. We don't have the infrastructure when it comes to rail and road so aviation has to work for the agreement to work,' said Mr Kilavuka.
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Summarising the last few years, Kenya Airways cargo director Dick Murianki says that there was a big demand for air cargo in Africa at outbreak of Covid pandemic because of the demand for medical supplies.
To meet the demand, Kenya Airways switched two of its B787-9s to a preighter configuration with passenger seats removed, while it also operates two B737-300Fs.
Mr Murianki says that an overspill of demand that could not be met at the height of the pandemic has now subsided and the global economic conditions are taking their toll on demand.
Ethiopian Cargo chief Abel Alemu said the market has slowed. 'For obvious reasons, the last two years were very high for demand but starting from around July or late June last year we have started some kind of a dip,' he said.
Looking at the Ethiopian market, Mr Alemu says that there has been 'a little bit of a shortage on the import side' but adds that 'exports have been very stable'.
One positive development for the continent is the african Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA). AfCFTA is the world's largest free trade area bringing together the 55 countries of the African Union and eight Regional Economic Communities.
The overall mandate of the AfCFTA is to create a single continental market with a combined GDP of US$3.4 trillion. It aims to eliminate trade barriers and boost intra-Africa trade.
However, for the agreement to be a success, it is essential that air cargo policy at a country level is enhanced to ease the movement of goods between countries.
During the Air Cargo Africa conference and exhibition, Kenya Airways CEO Allan Kilavuka said: 'The AfCTA is fantastic, but it will not work if we don't grow the air traffic and the aviation business in Africa.
'If the policy formulation is not in tandem with the intention of the free trade agreement it will not work. We don't have the infrastructure when it comes to rail and road so aviation has to work for the agreement to work,' said Mr Kilavuka.
SeaNews Turkey
