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Development of Africa's air cargo sector is hindered by poor infrastructure

AFRICA's inadequate and rundown infrastructure is hampering the development of the continent's air cargo logistics, transportation and supply chain sectors, resulting in high costs for forwarders and shippers, London's Loadstar reported.

"We should put the onus on airport operators, which are operating without an integrated approach ?without a thought for cargo policy," Worldwide Flight Services (WFS) chief operating officer Barry Nassberg told delegates at Air Cargo Africa in Johannesburg.

"You could make it attractive for private developers to develop multi-tenanted facilities, such as cold chain facilities. It has to come back to the airport as a willing partner to allow necessary development to happen."

Said Saudia Cargo vice president Rainer Mueller: "You could have a better hubbing system in Nairobi and an option to transfer cargo there. Or have a trucking system to other countries, which you could combine with the integrators, which also want support in Africa."

Poor integrator networks, as well as the lack of road and airport infrastructure and inadequate regulation, was also seen as a serious threat to e-commerce, a sector with high growth potential for both Africa and air freight.

Said Atlas Air vice president Graham Perkins: "Some countries don't have transit cargo and it is difficult to set up an e-commerce hub. But there is desire and demand - e-commerce is growing at 30 per cent and air cargo is growing at two to three per cent."

Mr Mueller reiterated the value of collaboration: "A lot is in our hands when it comes to collaboration between airlines and forwarders and handlers. Flower exports work very well in Kenya - there is excellent cooperation. E-commerce is ongoing and happening - but we are not ready to deal with it. There is a lot we could do better."

At the event there were repeated calls for regulators to work together and more openly, and calls for more liberalised trade. But Kenya Airways chief operating officer Jan de Vegt said it was too soon for the continent to be able to cope with 'open skies' legislation.

"We have to get to a situation where we have open skies in Africa ?but we can't just open up without going through certain stages," he argued. "In Africa, we have to grow our economies a little bit. Otherwise airlines will come in and just go out when it gets difficult."