Page 21 - LUA September-October 2025 for Magzter

GROWTH PROJECTIONS
AND FUTURE OUTLOOK
The outlook for Africa's air cargo charter
market remains positive despite short-
term volatility. IATA predicts cargo
volumes will rise 5.8 per cent in 2025,
reaching 72.5 million tonnes, with Africa
expected to maintain its
growth trajectory.
Coetzee projects steady growth
The freighter driven by fundamental economic factors:
situation in Africa “Charter demand will grow steadily,
changes all the driven by infrastructure projects, intra-
time. At the Africa trade, and humanitarian needs.
Charters will remain vital to connecting
moment there underserved regions, several factors will
seems to not be drive this, with continued investment
enough capacity in infrastructure and energy projects
growing intra-African trade and the
particularly in West need for reliable logistics solutions in
and Southern Africa regions underserved by commercial
but that allows us (scheduled) services.”
The implementation of the AfCFTA
an opportunity for represents a significant opportunity for
more charters to be charter growth. As trade barriers fall and
facilitated. intra-continental commerce expands,
the demand for flexible, reliable cargo
transport solutions will increase. Charter
LYNDEE DU TOIT
ACS services are particularly well-positioned
to serve new trade routes that may not
initially support scheduled cargo services.
South Africa’s state-owned airports industrial equipment. du Toit explains “There are so many opportunities
operator plans to raise about half of the comprehensive nature of capacity available in the African market. We
the 21.7 billion rand ($1.2 billion) requirements: “The answer is all of the would love to be part of the change that
earmarked for infrastructure upgrades above. We do small loads from 50 kgs needs to happen to ensure easy access to
over the next year. As part of its flagship through to 100-tonne loads and specialised permits such as open skies which would
projects, Airports Company South Africa aircraft such as the Antonov 124.” facilitate growth across the continent,”
(ACSA) has started preparatory work This range reflects the varied nature says du Toit.
on a 5.7 billion rand cargo terminal at of African charter operations, where a Africa's air cargo charter market
Johannesburg’s OR Tambo International single operator might handle everything represents a unique and vital component
Airport, with completion targeted for from urgent medical supplies to oversized of the continent's logistics infrastructure.
2028–29, according to the latest reports. mining equipment. The flexibility to Success in this market requires
The development of these hubs provide appropriate aircraft for each specialised knowledge, strong local
is particularly important for charter mission is crucial for success in this partnerships, and the flexibility to adapt
operations, as they provide the market, requiring operators to maintain to changing conditions. “Africa is a
infrastructure necessary to handle relationships with a diverse fleet of region where knowledge, reliability and
complex cargo types and serve as staging aircraft operators or maintain multi-type speed really matter and that is exactly
points for onward distribution to more fleets themselves. where we add value. Our experience,
remote destinations. du Toit notes that “The freighter network, and agility make us the go to
situation in Africa changes all the time. At partner for connecting Africa with the
AIRCRAFT TYPES AND the moment, there seems not to be enough world,” says Coetzee.
CAPACITY CONSIDERATIONS capacity, particularly in West and Southern The future of African air cargo
The diversity of cargo requirements Africa, but that allows us an opportunity charters lies in continued infrastructure
in Africa necessitates a broad range for more charters to be facilitated.” The development, regulatory harmonisation,
of aircraft types, from small cargo limited availability of the aircraft types can and the adoption of digital technologies
aircraft handling express deliveries create bottlenecks in project timelines and that can streamline operations and
to massive cargo planes transporting requires careful advance planning. reduce costs.

SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2025 LUA 19