Page 20 - LUA September-October 2025 for Magzter

FEATURE

with limited infrastructure. These projects
typically operate on tight schedules,
making charter services essential for
maintaining construction timelines.
Infrastructure development continues
to drive substantial charter activity, with
projects ranging from telecommunications
network expansion to transportation
infrastructure improvements. The African
Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)
implementation has accelerated intra-
continental trade, creating demand for
reliable logistics solutions to connect
markets that were previously underserved.
Humanitarian and government
projects maintain their critical role in
the African charter market. As Coetzee
emphasises, “Humanitarian and relief
operations are at the core of our work
across the continent. Chapman Freeborn
has a long history of supporting NGOs,
governments, and UN agencies in
delivering aid during emergencies within
Africa, from delivering much-needed
food and medicine to emergency response
and evacuations.”
Astral Aviation has recently
supported the Ministry of Health and the
Government of Botswana by transporting
36 tonnes of pharmaceuticals on its
Boeing 767-200F to aid the State of Public
Health Emergency. challenging and something we need to across the continent. Nairobi is the
be aware of to try and mitigate risks on busiest cargo airport on the continent,
OPERATIONAL CHALLENGES the day of the flights.” followed by Cairo and Johannesburg.
AND INFRASTRUCTURE Coetzee provides additional detail Other important hubs are Addis Ababa,
CONSTRAINTS on these challenges: “Remote airports, Casablanca, and Lagos, representing the
Operating charter services in Africa infrastructure, and limited ground established network of African cargo
presents a unique set of challenges that handling equipment, complex regulations, processing centres.
require specialised knowledge, local and security issues are some of the main du Toit provides insight into
partnerships, and adaptive operational hurdles. Regulatory processes can also emerging opportunities: “Johannesburg
strategies. The continent's vast geography, vary greatly between countries, sometimes and Nairobi are the most established
varying levels of infrastructure leading to longer lead times for permits airports in the region. There has been a
development, and complex regulatory and clearances required; however, with lot of growth in Addis Ababa and Lagos.
environment create obstacles that local expertise and strong partnerships is Angola and Rwanda, amongst others,
operators must navigate skillfully to key to overcoming them.” have growth plans with new airports
ensure successful mission completion. Building on Coetzee’s observations, close to opening.”
Airport infrastructure remains one du Toit says, “Communication and According to the latest data from the
of the most significant operational knowledge of the various role players are Kenyan government, cargo remains a key
challenges. Many African airports, key to the success of any operation.” driver at Jomo Kenyatta International
particularly those serving remote mining Airport (JKIA), with 398,000 tonnes
operations or rural communities, lack HUB DEVELOPMENT AND handled in the 2023/24 financial year,
the sophisticated ground handling AIRPORT INFRASTRUCTURE positioning it among the largest airports
equipment and cargo processing EVOLUTION in sub-Saharan Africa by cargo volume.
facilities found at major international The African air cargo landscape is Cargo is expected to continue playing a
hubs. du Toit highlights this challenge: experiencing significant transformation central role in the airport’s growth, with
“Overflight and landing permits and through the development of key hub volumes projected to more than double to
a lack of handling equipment can be airports and infrastructure improvements over 740,000 tonnes by 2055.

18 LUA SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2025