THE International Air Cargo Association (TIACA) has expressed concern over the air-cargo sector in Africa which has experienced a significant drop in capacity to Europe by 70 per cent compared to 2019 according to CLIVE Data Services.
In a statement TIACA noted that despite the vital role this activity plays in providing people with basic necessities and essential medical equipment, the situation is very concerning on the continent. It called on all stakeholders - institutional and private alike - to take action without delay to contain this phenomenon.
'We are encouraging African airlines to respond to capacity requirements immediately, in particular by putting passenger freighter systems in place, such as those implemented by airlines including Ethiopian Airlines, Kenya Airways, S and Rwandair,' said Sanjeev Gadhia, TIACA vice chairman and CEO of Astral Aviation.
'Collaboration and cooperation between African airlines across their respective fleets and networks are both essential so we can overcome the challenges we are facing,' he added.
According to Mr Gadhia, a concrete example is the drop in capacity has resulted in a capacity crisis in Nairobi for its perishables exports to Europe from 5,000 tonnes to 1,800 tonnes per week, which will have disastrous effects on the agriculture sector in Kenya, which is yet to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.
TIACA calls on the Air Cargo Community in Africa to rise up to the challenge by formulating a recovery plan that will enable it to sustain the shocks of the pandemic.
It urged African governments and civil aviation authorities (Cs) to take immediate measures to support the aviation sector and the economy, by cushioning them against the impact of the pandemic. It said issues that needed to be resolved included airport closures due to lockdown, closure or curfew measures; quarantining of crews in certain African airports and the need to standardise crew quarantine requirements, including by providing dedicated rest areas; lifting the night bans affecting the move of ground staff; restrictions and limitations on cargo flights in certain African countries; simplifying procedures and easing the clearance for goods like pharma and food and fumigation requirements put in place in multiple African countries.
SeaNews Turkey
In a statement TIACA noted that despite the vital role this activity plays in providing people with basic necessities and essential medical equipment, the situation is very concerning on the continent. It called on all stakeholders - institutional and private alike - to take action without delay to contain this phenomenon.
'We are encouraging African airlines to respond to capacity requirements immediately, in particular by putting passenger freighter systems in place, such as those implemented by airlines including Ethiopian Airlines, Kenya Airways, S and Rwandair,' said Sanjeev Gadhia, TIACA vice chairman and CEO of Astral Aviation.
'Collaboration and cooperation between African airlines across their respective fleets and networks are both essential so we can overcome the challenges we are facing,' he added.
According to Mr Gadhia, a concrete example is the drop in capacity has resulted in a capacity crisis in Nairobi for its perishables exports to Europe from 5,000 tonnes to 1,800 tonnes per week, which will have disastrous effects on the agriculture sector in Kenya, which is yet to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.
TIACA calls on the Air Cargo Community in Africa to rise up to the challenge by formulating a recovery plan that will enable it to sustain the shocks of the pandemic.
It urged African governments and civil aviation authorities (Cs) to take immediate measures to support the aviation sector and the economy, by cushioning them against the impact of the pandemic. It said issues that needed to be resolved included airport closures due to lockdown, closure or curfew measures; quarantining of crews in certain African airports and the need to standardise crew quarantine requirements, including by providing dedicated rest areas; lifting the night bans affecting the move of ground staff; restrictions and limitations on cargo flights in certain African countries; simplifying procedures and easing the clearance for goods like pharma and food and fumigation requirements put in place in multiple African countries.
SeaNews Turkey