Page 18 - LUA September-October 2025 for Magzter

FEATURE

Africa’s air cargo charters
A RESILIENT

LIFELINE

FOR TRADE

Africa’s air cargo charter market is evolving with rising demand,
sector diversification, and infrastructure growth, reinforcing its
role as a vital trade and aid lifeline, reports Parijat Sourabh.

frica's air cargo charter remains one of the more dynamic
market stands as one of the and unique markets globally. “It's less
most distinctive and resilient seasonal, more urgency-driven,” he
Asegments in global aviation, explains. “Projects, humanitarian needs,
characterised by unique operational and limited scheduled services keep the
demands, diverse cargo requirements, market consistently active compared
and consistent activity levels that defy to other regions.” This assessment
typical seasonal patterns. As the continent underscores the fundamental difference
continues to develop its infrastructure and between African charter operations
expand its economic footprint, the charter and those in more developed aviation
market has evolved into a critical lifeline markets, where scheduled services
connecting remote regions, facilitating dominate cargo movement.
trade, and supporting humanitarian The market's resilience stems from its
efforts across the vast African landscape. diverse demand drivers. Unlike regions
heavily dependent on manufacturing
MARKET DYNAMICS AND exports or seasonal consumer goods,
CURRENT DEMAND Africa's charter market thrives on a
The African air cargo charter market complex mix of resource extraction,
presents a compelling narrative of infrastructure development, humanitarian
sustained demand driven by factors that aid, and increasingly, e-commerce
distinguish it from other global regions. fulfilment. Statista data projects that
IATA’s latest July 2025 air cargo market Africa’s e-commerce market will grow
data shows African carriers recorded the at a CAGR of 7.52% between 2025 and
strongest year-on-year growth in cargo 2030, reaching an estimated value of
load factor (CLF) across all regions, US$61.78 billion by 2030. This will create
reaching 46.8% (+4.1 percentage points). new opportunities for charter operators to
This marks the highest CLF ever achieved serve time-sensitive delivery requirements
by the region in July. across the continent.
African carriers sustained the growth Lyndee du Toit, CEO of Air Charter
momentum from June, recording a 9.4% Service (ACS) Africa, provides additional
year-on-year rise in air cargo demand in perspective on the current market
July, 5.8 percentage points higher than conditions: “Different sectors are doing
June and the strongest performance since well while others are lower than previous
August 2024. years. e-commerce, for example, is
According to Gerhard Coetzee, Vice expanding across all parts of Africa, which
President Cargo, IMEA, Chapman keeps the volumes up. Other sectors, such
Freeborn Africa's charter demand as oil and gas, are still lower than previous

16 LUA SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2025