Page 11 - LUA May - June 2023 for Magzter
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for an alignment with customs to ensure
e-commerce is fast-tracked."
Given the global scenario, it may be
2024 or even 2025 before full freighter
aircraft capacity (pre-Covid levels) is
restored to the Africa market. "That being
said, given the current slowdown in air
African airlines trade between Asia, Europe and North
America, some freighter operators may
need to invest deploy their “excess” freighter capacity on
in freighters to “north-south” markets like Africa to/from
increase the Europe and/or Asia."
The Africa-domiciled freighter
capacity for air fleet is small, and the major aircraft
cargo to, from and manufacturers see demand for 80-100
within Africa. freighters, mostly in the narrowbody
gauge. The upside, due to the nascent
African producers could gain significant SANJEEV GADHIA expansion of e-commerce networks, may
share compared to their competitors." ASTRAL AVIATION be considerable, the report said.
E-commerce penetration is only around "Astral will continue to expand to new
one percent but if players could emulate needs to be the right infrastructure to be in markets such as Israel, Saudi Arabia and
the practices of other markets (e.g. Latin place to support the growth of e-commerce Turkey in addition to planned expansion
America), the growth opportunity could such as dedicated e-commerce fulfilment into China over the next one year. With
be vast, the report added. warehouses around key airports and the arrival of the B767-300F in 2023/4,
Gadhia feels e-commerce can be a big ports in Africa. Currently, e-commerce is Astral will be able to offer new solutions
driver of air cargo in Africa "but there treated as general cargo, hence the need to clients," concludes Gadhia.
CONNECTING AFRICA
WITH THE WORLD
www.astral-aviation.com
MAY - JUNE 2023 LUA 9
